CalArts vs. UWest

Deciding between California Institute of the Arts and University of the West? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Institute of the Arts

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CalArts Valencia, CA
  • UWest Rosemead, CA
  • Setting
  • CalArts Midsize Suburban
  • UWest Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CalArts 1,277
  • UWest 138
  • Type
  • CalArts Private 4 Year
  • UWest Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CalArts
  • UWest
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CalArts -
  • UWest -
  • Status
  • CalArts Non-profit
  • UWest Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CalArts
  • UWest
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CalArts $58,996
  • UWest $15,446
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CalArts $58,996
  • UWest $15,446
  • Room & Board
  • CalArts $14,134
  • UWest $14,244
  • Average Net Price
  • CalArts $56,239
  • UWest $14,713
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CalArts $21,416
  • UWest $9,445
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CalArts 95%
  • UWest 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CalArts 2,004
  • UWest 4
  • Admitted
  • CalArts 648
  • UWest 4
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CalArts 32.3%
  • UWest 100% Open
  • Enrolled
  • CalArts 27.9%
  • UWest 25% Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • CalArts
  • UWest
  • Typical ACT score
  • CalArts
  • UWest
  • Average High School GPA
  • CalArts -
  • UWest 2.43
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CalArts -
  • UWest C+
  • Admissions Standards
  • CalArts Unavailable
  • UWest Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CalArts High
  • UWest
  • ACT Range
  • CalArts
  • UWest
  • SAT Range
  • CalArts
  • UWest
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CalArts Test-free
  • UWest Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • CalArts Jan 5, 2027
  • UWest Jun 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CalArts 7:1
  • UWest 4:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CalArts
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • UWest
    • Business (56%)
    • English and Literature (33%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CalArts 65%
  • UWest -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CalArts $50,400
  • UWest N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CalArts 64%
  • UWest -
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CalArts $28,500
  • UWest N/A
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CalArts $294
  • UWest N/A
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CalArts 41%
  • UWest 46%
  • % Women
  • CalArts 59%
  • UWest 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CalArts Very High
  • UWest Very High
  • HBCU
  • CalArts No
  • UWest No
  • % White
  • CalArts 42%
  • UWest 9%
  • % Asian
  • CalArts 16%
  • UWest 9%
  • % Black
  • CalArts 7%
  • UWest 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • CalArts 15%
  • UWest 41%
  • % Native American
  • CalArts 1%
  • UWest 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CalArts 1%
  • UWest 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CalArts 6%
  • UWest 3%
  • % International
  • CalArts 7%
  • UWest 34%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CalArts 8%
  • UWest 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CalArts 36%
  • UWest 100%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CalArts 39%
  • UWest 0%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CalArts Yes
  • UWest Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CalArts No
  • UWest No
  • Meal Plan
  • CalArts Yes
  • UWest Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CalArts No
  • UWest Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • CalArts No
  • UWest No

Comparable Facts

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

California Institute of the Arts is larger than UWest based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 138 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); University of the West is in Rosemead, CA (Large Suburban setting).
  • California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of the West is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; University of the West 4:1.

CalArts vs. UWest Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or UWest? 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 the West than CalArts ($14,713 vs. $56,239).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 0.8% lower than at University of the West ($14,134 vs. $14,244).
  • California Institute of the Arts is 282% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWest (about $43,550 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $15,446.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 282% higher at CalArts than at University of the West (about $43,550 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $15,446.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of the West than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 126.7% larger than aid received by University of the West students ($21,416 vs. $9,445).

CalArts vs. UWest Admissions comparison

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

  • University of the West reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; UWest - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; UWest Jun 15, 2027.
  • UWest has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than CalArts (32.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 25% at UWest.

CalArts vs. UWest Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and UWest? 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).

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.