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 tables 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.

Cost details

• 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).
• 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 vs. $32,150).
• 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).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both CalArts and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Loans and repayment

• 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.