CalArts vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Pacific Northwest College of Art based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 466 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Pacific Northwest College of Art is in Portland, OR (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Pacific Northwest College of Art 9:1.

CalArts vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art than CalArts ($39,710 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 28.5% lower than at Pacific Northwest College of Art ($14,134 vs. $19,760).
• California Institute of the Arts is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pacific Northwest College of Art (about $9,990 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $49,006.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at CalArts than at Pacific Northwest College of Art (about $9,990 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $49,006.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pacific Northwest College of Art than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Northwest College of Art students is 43.2% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($30,666 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Pacific Northwest College of Art - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Pacific Northwest College of Art has a higher acceptance rate (74.8%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 28.1% at Pacific Northwest College of Art.

CalArts vs. Pacific Northwest College of Art Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Pacific Northwest College of Art? 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 Pacific Northwest College of Art's (42%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $20,500 more per year than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $29,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates have a $519 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,981 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($289 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pacific Northwest College of Art students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 50%)

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.