CalArts vs. SKC

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, MT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than SKC based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 671 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Salish Kootenai College is in Pablo, MT (Distant Rural setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Salish Kootenai College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Salish Kootenai College 6:1.

CalArts vs. SKC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or SKC? 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 Salish Kootenai College than CalArts ($6,771 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salish Kootenai College are 50.3% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($7,020 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 822% more expensive for in-state tuition than SKC (about $52,597 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $6,399.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 409.3% higher at CalArts than at Salish Kootenai College (about $47,413 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $11,583.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Salish Kootenai College (95% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 223.5% larger than aid received by Salish Kootenai College students ($21,416 vs. $6,621).

CalArts vs. SKC Admissions comparison

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

• Salish Kootenai College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; SKC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.

CalArts vs. SKC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and SKC? 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 Salish Kootenai College's (48%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $21,400 more per year than SKC graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $29,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Salish Kootenai College graduates have a $16,028 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($12,472 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, SKC graduates have an estimated $166 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($128 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SKC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 36%)

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.