CalArts vs. Hood

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Hood College in Frederick, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hood College is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (2,101 students vs. 1,277 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Hood College is in Frederick, MD (Small City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hood College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Hood College 10:1.

CalArts vs. Hood Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Hood? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Hood College than CalArts ($23,350 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 12.8% lower than at Hood College ($14,134 vs. $16,200).
• California Institute of the Arts is 23.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Hood (about $11,296 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $47,700.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.7% higher at CalArts than at Hood College (about $11,296 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $47,700.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hood College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hood College students is 77.2% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($37,957 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Hood Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Hood? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Hood and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Hood - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Hood Aug 15, 2027.
• Hood has a higher acceptance rate (77.8%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 12% at Hood.

CalArts vs. Hood Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Hood? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Hood College's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than California Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Hood graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hood College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Hood graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More Hood graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.