CalArts vs. USD

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with University of San Diego in San Diego, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of San Diego is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (9,714 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); University of San Diego is in San Diego, CA (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of San Diego is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; University of San Diego 13:1.

CalArts vs. USD Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or USD? 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 University of San Diego than CalArts ($37,918 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 29% lower than at University of San Diego ($14,134 vs. $19,918).
• University of San Diego is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CalArts (about $490 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at USD than at California Institute of the Arts (about $490 more per year; $59,486.00 vs. $58,996.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at University of San Diego (95% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of San Diego students is 91.3% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($40,965 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. USD Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; USD - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; USD Dec 15, 2026.
• USD has a higher acceptance rate (52.4%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 12.4% at USD.

CalArts vs. USD Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and USD? 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).

• University of San Diego's six-year graduation rate (75%) is higher than California Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from University of San Diego earn a median of about $19,800 more per year than CalArts graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,200 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of San Diego graduates have a $5,596 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($22,904 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, USD graduates have an estimated $58 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($236 vs. $294).
• More USD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 64%)

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.