CalArts vs. NSC

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Nevada State University in Henderson, NV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nevada State University is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (7,549 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); Nevada State University is in Henderson, NV (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Nevada State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Nevada State University 18:1.

CalArts vs. NSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or NSC? 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 Nevada State University than CalArts ($15,699 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nevada State University are 16.4% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($11,819 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 772.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than NSC (about $52,231 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $6,765.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 170.2% higher at CalArts than at Nevada State University (about $37,163 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $21,833.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Nevada State University (95% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 168.7% larger than aid received by Nevada State University students ($21,416 vs. $7,969).

CalArts vs. NSC Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; NSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• NSC has a higher acceptance rate (86.8%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 33.2% at NSC.

CalArts vs. NSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and NSC? 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 Nevada State University's (22%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Nevada State University graduates have a $5,580 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($22,920 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, NSC graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($236 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 43%)

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.