CalArts vs. Kansas City Art Institute

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Kansas City Art Institute based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CalArts vs. Kansas City Art Institute Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Kansas City Art Institute? 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 Kansas City Art Institute than CalArts ($27,650 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kansas City Art Institute are 3.4% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($13,651 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 32.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Kansas City Art Institute (about $14,446 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $44,550.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at CalArts than at Kansas City Art Institute (about $14,446 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $44,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kansas City Art Institute than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Kansas City Art Institute students is 39% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($29,760 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Kansas City Art Institute Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Kansas City Art Institute? 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 Kansas City Art Institute and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Kansas City Art Institute - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Kansas City Art Institute has a higher acceptance rate (54.8%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 35.1% at Kansas City Art Institute.

CalArts vs. Kansas City Art Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Kansas City Art Institute? 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).

• Kansas City Art Institute's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than California Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $17,500 more per year than Kansas City Art Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Kansas City Art Institute graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Kansas City Art Institute graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kansas City Art Institute students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 62%)

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.