CalArts vs. SMFA

Should I go to California Institute of the Arts or School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CalArts or SMFA is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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California Institute of the Arts vs. School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston comparison
California Institute of the Arts School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston College 3 College 4
California Institute of the Arts School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston
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Overview

CalArts SMFA
Location Valencia, CA Boston, MA
Setting Midsize Suburban Large City
Enrollment 1,440 492
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website calarts.edu smfa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CalArts SMFA
Tuition (In State) $54,440 $39,928
Tuition (Out of State) $54,440 $39,928
Room & Board $12,446 $14,850
Avg Net Price $55,225 $39,340
Avg Grant Aid $20,474 $15,629
% Receiving Grant Aid 59% 100%

Admission

CalArts SMFA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,120 318
Admitted 525 258
Acceptance Rate 24.8% 81.1%
Enrolled % 36% 15.5%
Avg High School GPA - -
Typical High School Grades - -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Neither required nor recommended
Application Deadline Jan 5, 2025

Academics

CalArts SMFA
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 0:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

CalArts SMFA
Graduation Rate 65% 55%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,400 $34,300
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 62%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,500 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $294 $268

Diversity

CalArts SMFA
% Men 38% 0%
% Women 62% 0%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 42% 49%
% Black 7% 3%
% Hispanic 15% 14%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 6% 3%
% International 7% 12%
% Unknown Race 8% 15%

Students

CalArts SMFA
% In-State 32% -
% Out-of-State 38% -

Campus

CalArts SMFA
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • California Institute of the Arts is larger than than SMFA based on total student enrollment (1,440 students vs. 492 students)

CalArts vs. SMFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or SMFA?

  • California Institute of the Arts is 36.3% more expensive to attend than SMFA for in-state tuition ($54,440.00 vs. $39,928.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 36.3% higher at CalArts than School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($54,440.00 vs. $39,928.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston than CalArts ($39,340 vs. $55,225)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 19.3% lower than costs at School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($12,446 vs. $14,850)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston than California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 59%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 31% larger than aid received School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston ($20,474 vs. $15,629)

CalArts vs. SMFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or SMFA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SMFA or CalArts .

  • SMFA has a higher acceptance rate (81.1%) than CalArts (24.8%)

CalArts vs. SMFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CalArts or SMFA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SMFA and CalArts.

  • The graduation rate at CalArts is higher than School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (65% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn on average $16,100 more per year than SMFA graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $34,300)
  • School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than CalArts graduates. ($26,000 vs. $28,500)
  • SMFA graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than CalArts graduates. ($268 vs. $294)
  • More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMFA students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/