CalArts vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

CalArts vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than CalArts ($28,826 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 18% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($14,134 vs. $17,230).
• California Institute of the Arts is 83.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $26,846 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 83.5% higher at CalArts than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $26,846 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 42.9% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($21,416 vs. $14,989).

CalArts vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

CalArts vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $21,700 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 58%)

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.