CalArts vs. Paul Smith's College

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 948 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1.

CalArts vs. Paul Smith's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than CalArts ($28,443 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 0.7% lower than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($14,134 vs. $14,236).
• California Institute of the Arts is 78.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paul Smith's College (about $25,987 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 78.7% higher at CalArts than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $25,987 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students is 7.3% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($22,973 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Paul Smith's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smith's College and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Paul Smith's College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Paul Smith's College has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 18.8% at Paul Smith's College.

CalArts vs. Paul Smith's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's (37%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $13,700 more per year than Paul Smith's College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates have a $3,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($25,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Paul Smith's College graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($258 vs. $294).
• More Paul Smith's College 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.