CalArts vs. Maine College of Art & Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Maine College of Art & Design in Portland, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Maine College of Art & Design based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 475 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Maine College of Art & Design is in Portland, ME (Small City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Maine College of Art & Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Maine College of Art & Design 8:1.

CalArts vs. Maine College of Art & Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Maine College of Art & Design? 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 Maine College of Art & Design than CalArts ($39,639 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 17.7% lower than at Maine College of Art & Design ($14,134 vs. $17,184).
• California Institute of the Arts is 37.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maine College of Art & Design (about $16,054 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.4% higher at CalArts than at Maine College of Art & Design (about $16,054 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $42,942.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Maine College of Art & Design than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Maine College of Art & Design students ($21,416 vs. $20,277).

CalArts vs. Maine College of Art & Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Maine College of Art & Design? 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 Maine College of Art & Design and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Maine College of Art & Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Maine College of Art & Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.1%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 16.1% at Maine College of Art & Design.

CalArts vs. Maine College of Art & Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Maine College of Art & Design? 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).

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Maine College of Art & Design's (42%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $18,800 more per year than Maine College of Art & Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $31,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Maine College of Art & Design graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Maine College of Art & Design graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More Maine College of Art & Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.