CalArts vs. The Chicago School at Chicago

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with The Chicago School at Chicago in Chicago, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than The Chicago School at Chicago based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 1,100 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); The Chicago School at Chicago is in Chicago, IL (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. The Chicago School at Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; The Chicago School at Chicago 17:1.

CalArts vs. The Chicago School at Chicago Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or The Chicago School at Chicago? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 23.7% lower than at The Chicago School at Chicago ($14,134 vs. $18,536).
• California Institute of the Arts is 170.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than The Chicago School at Chicago (about $37,216 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $21,780.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 170.9% higher at CalArts than at The Chicago School at Chicago (about $37,216 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $21,780.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at The Chicago School at Chicago (95% vs. 0%).

CalArts vs. The Chicago School at Chicago Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or The Chicago School at Chicago? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between The Chicago School at Chicago and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; The Chicago School at Chicago - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• The Chicago School at Chicago has a higher acceptance rate (34.5%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 40% at The Chicago School at Chicago.

CalArts vs. The Chicago School at Chicago Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and The Chicago School at Chicago? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate is 65%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for The Chicago School at Chicago.
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts have median earnings of about $50,400 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for The Chicago School at Chicago.

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.