Admit rate has ranged 25%–29% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a fiercely experimental, interdisciplinary art school where avant-garde creativity thrives. Founded in 1961 and located in Valencia, it boasts a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, a 32% acceptance rate, and a reputation for producing boundary-pushing artists across film, animation, theater, and visual arts. With a graduation rate of 68% and median earnings of $36,427 post-graduation, it’s a high-stakes, high-reward incubator for those willing to dive deep into artistic theory and practice.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Letters of recommendation
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Grade point average
Class rank
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
860
In-state tuition
$58,996
Out-of-state tuition
$58,996
Acceptance Rate
32.3%
Graduation Rate
68%
Median Student Debt
$25,000
Application Deadline
January 5
Undergraduate Majors
25
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
7:1
Median Earnings Post-Grad
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$41,198
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
0.9×
Median debt at graduation
$25,000
Graduation rate
67%
First-year retention
82%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
67%
Pell (lower-income) share
46%
First-generation share
16%
Endowment / student
$289,898
Financial health
2.9 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Design and Applied Arts$49,840
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft$22,420
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$20,140
Dance$15,182
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
158
Summer high
92°F
Winter low
44°F
Annual rain
18.4"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
30
Scholarly works
304
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.9%
Bottom → top quintile
12%
From bottom quintile
8%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts's acceptance rate is approximately 32% (Valencia, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does California Institute of the Arts cost?
At California Institute of the Arts, the average net price (after aid) is about $46,080 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts enrolls approximately 860 undergraduate students.
Where is California Institute of the Arts located?
California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA.
Admissions
CalArts is selective but not impenetrable, with a 32.3% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. in 2024 (648 admits from 2,004 applications)—a 23.4% increase in admissions from previous years. The school doesn’t emphasize standardized test scores (no SAT/ACT data is published), instead prioritizing portfolios and artistic potential. Applications are due January 5, and the process is heavily weighted toward demonstrating creative rigor and interdisciplinary curiosity.
CalArts offers 25 majors across visual, performing, media, and literary arts, with a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures intense mentorship. The BFA program requires 120 units over 8 semesters, with at least one year in residence. Students rave about 'practical experience in your area of study' and interdisciplinary freedom—taking courses across disciplines regardless of major. The curriculum leans heavily toward theory and fine arts, with less focus on commercial art paths.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
The campus pulses with 'indescribable energy,' fueled by round-the-clock creative collaboration. Students describe an environment where 'everyone is extremely friendly and kind,' with a mix of camaraderie and healthy competition. The Valencia location—suburban but within striking distance of LA—offers a cocoon-like focus, though some note the social scene revolves almost entirely around art. 'Everyone wanted to be there,' recalls one alum, citing instructors with niche specialties who push boundaries.
Graduation rates hover around 68%, with 51% finishing in 4 years. Post-graduation, median earnings are $36,427—modest for the cost, though many alumni prioritize artistic impact over income. The school’s animation and film programs (think: Pixar, Disney ties) YieldThe share of admitted students who actually choose to enroll. Colleges watch it closely, which is why some weigh how interested you seem. stronger financial returns, while fine arts graduates often navigate a scrappier path. Debt is relatively low for a private institution, with a median of $25,000.
Tuition and fees total $84,180, but 69% of students receive aid, with an average grant award of $13,684. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid is $57,288—still steep, though the school meets 64% of demonstrated need. Financial aid applications are rolling, with notifications starting April 1. Many students take loans (56%), but median debt is kept manageable at $25,000.
CalArts is a singular ecosystem for artists who thrive on experimentation and cross-pollination. Unlike conservatories that drill technical mastery, it encourages radical reinvention—think: the birthplace of avant-garde animation (thanks to Disney ties) and a hub for performance art. The 7:1 ratio means near-constant faculty engagement, while the 'interpersonal creative exchanges' (as the school puts it) forge lifelong collaborators. It’s not for the faint of heart—financially or artistically—but for those who click, it’s transformative.
California Institute of the Arts logo · sourceCalifornia College of the Arts Campus Expansion – Studio Gang · sourceCalArts Home | CalArts · sourceCalifornia Institute of the Arts (CalArts) - Santa Monica College · source
