CalArts vs. Menlo

Should I go to California Institute of the Arts or Menlo College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CalArts or Menlo is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Institute of the Arts vs. Menlo College comparison
California Institute of the Arts Menlo College College 3 College 4
California Institute of the Arts
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Overview

CalArts Menlo
Location Valencia, CA Atherton, CA
Setting Midsize Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,440 800
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calarts.edu menlo.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CalArts Menlo
Tuition (In State) $54,440 $48,260
Tuition (Out of State) $54,440 $48,260
Room & Board $12,446 $16,250
Avg Net Price $55,225 $29,151
Avg Grant Aid $20,474 $34,632
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 100%

Admission

CalArts Menlo
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,120 3,357
Admitted 525 2,072
Acceptance Rate 24.8% 61.7%
Enrolled % 36% 9.8%
Avg High School GPA - 3.3
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025 Apr 1, 2025

Academics

CalArts Menlo
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (67%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Communication (15%)
  • Psychology (1%)

Outcomes

CalArts Menlo
Graduation Rate 65% 34%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,400 $53,900
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,500 $21,062
Median Loan Payment $294 $217

Diversity

CalArts Menlo
% Men 38% 56%
% Women 62% 44%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 29%
% Black 7% 6%
% Hispanic 15% 22%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 2%
% Two or More Races 6% 8%
% International 7% 14%
% Unknown Race 8% 9%

Students

CalArts Menlo
% In-State 32% 49%
% Out-of-State 38% 22%

Campus

CalArts Menlo
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Institute of the Arts is larger than than Menlo based on total student enrollment (1,440 students vs. 800 students)

CalArts vs. Menlo Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Menlo?

  • California Institute of the Arts is 12.8% more expensive to attend than Menlo for in-state tuition ($54,440.00 vs. $48,260.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.8% higher at CalArts than Menlo College ($54,440.00 vs. $48,260.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Menlo College than CalArts ($29,151 vs. $55,225)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 30.6% lower than costs at Menlo College ($12,446 vs. $16,250)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Menlo College than California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Menlo College students is 69.2% larger than aid received California Institute of the Arts ($34,632 vs. $20,474)

CalArts vs. Menlo Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Menlo? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Menlo or CalArts .

  • Menlo has a higher acceptance rate (61.7%) than CalArts (24.8%)

CalArts vs. Menlo Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CalArts or Menlo? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Menlo and CalArts.

  • The graduation rate at CalArts is higher than Menlo College (65% vs. 34%)
  • Graduates from Menlo College earn on average $3,500 more per year than CalArts graduates after ten years. ($53,900 vs. $50,400)
  • Menlo College students graduate with a $7,438 lower median federal student loan debt than CalArts graduates. ($21,062 vs. $28,500)
  • Menlo graduates are paying $77 less per month on federal student loans than CalArts graduates. ($217 vs. $294)
  • More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Menlo students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 55%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/