CalArts vs. Messenger College

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Messenger College based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 24 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CalArts vs. Messenger College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Messenger College? 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 Messenger College than CalArts ($25,941 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messenger College are 5.9% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($13,305 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 407.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Messenger College (about $47,376 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 407.7% higher at CalArts than at Messenger College (about $47,376 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $11,620.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Messenger College (95% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 443.6% larger than aid received by Messenger College students ($21,416 vs. $3,940).

CalArts vs. Messenger College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Messenger College? 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 Messenger College and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Messenger College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Messenger College Jul 1, 2027.
• Messenger College has a higher acceptance rate (37.5%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 66.7% at Messenger College.

CalArts vs. Messenger College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Messenger College? 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 Messenger College's (10%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $26,400 more per year than Messenger College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $24,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Messenger College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 40%)

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.