CalArts vs. TC

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Texas College in Tyler, TX on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than TC based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 614 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Texas College is in Tyler, TX (Small City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Texas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Texas College 17:1.

CalArts vs. TC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or TC? 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 Texas College than CalArts ($10,958 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Texas College are 43.4% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($8,000 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 489.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than TC (about $48,988 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $10,008.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 489.5% higher at CalArts than at Texas College (about $48,988 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $10,008.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Texas College (95% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 128.3% larger than aid received by Texas College students ($21,416 vs. $9,381).

CalArts vs. TC Admissions comparison

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

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

CalArts vs. TC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and TC? 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 Texas College's (6%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $22,600 more per year than TC graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $27,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California Institute of the Arts graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than TC graduates ($28,500 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, CalArts graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than TC graduates ($294 vs. $320).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TC students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 14%)

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.