CalArts vs. Russell Sage College

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Russell Sage College in Troy, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Russell Sage College is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (2,790 students vs. 1,277 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Russell Sage College is in Troy, NY (Small City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Russell Sage College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Russell Sage College 10:1.

CalArts vs. Russell Sage College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Russell Sage College? 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 Russell Sage College than CalArts ($21,046 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Russell Sage College are 0.6% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($14,048 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 54.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Russell Sage College (about $20,832 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $38,164.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 54.6% higher at CalArts than at Russell Sage College (about $20,832 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $38,164.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Russell Sage College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Russell Sage College students is 36.8% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($29,295 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Russell Sage College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Russell Sage College? 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 Russell Sage College and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Russell Sage College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Russell Sage College has a higher acceptance rate (53.3%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 19.4% at Russell Sage College.

CalArts vs. Russell Sage College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Russell Sage College? 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 Russell Sage College's (58%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Russell Sage College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $43,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Russell Sage College graduates have a $5,250 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($23,250 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Russell Sage College graduates have an estimated $54 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($240 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Russell Sage College 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.