CalArts vs. Warren Wilson

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Warren Wilson based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 791 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Warren Wilson College is in Swannanoa, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Warren Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Warren Wilson College 12:1.

CalArts vs. Warren Wilson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Warren Wilson? 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 Warren Wilson College than CalArts ($26,084 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Warren Wilson College are 7.7% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($13,050 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 42.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Warren Wilson (about $17,496 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $41,500.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.2% higher at CalArts than at Warren Wilson College (about $17,496 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $41,500.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Warren Wilson College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Warren Wilson College students is 44.2% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($30,887 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Warren Wilson Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsWarren Wilson College 21/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Warren Wilson - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Warren Wilson Jul 3, 2027.
• Warren Wilson has a higher acceptance rate (71.3%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 17.9% at Warren Wilson.

CalArts vs. Warren Wilson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Warren Wilson? 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 Warren Wilson College's (45%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $19,600 more per year than Warren Wilson graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $30,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Warren Wilson College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($23,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Warren Wilson graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($237 vs. $294).
• More Warren Wilson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.