California College of the Arts
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who want small classes and close faculty access. freshman retention is below 65%. a private nonprofit school with 1,004 students.
About This School
California College of the Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in San Francisco, California with approximately 1,004 undergraduate students enrolled. California College of the Arts has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 73%. The average net price after financial aid is $42,168 per year. The graduation rate is 59%, and the typical graduate earns $48,000 within 10 years of enrollment.
The California College of the Arts (CCA) is a private art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded in Berkeley, California in 1907 and moved to a historic estate in Oakland, California in 1922. In 1996, it opened a second campus in San Francisco; in 2022, the Oakland campus was closed and merged into the San Francisco campus. CCA enrolls approximately 1,239 undergraduates and 380 graduate students. In January 2026, CCA president David Howse announced the college will be closing at the end of the 2026–2027 academic year, with Vanderbilt University taking over the campus.
The numbers tell a concerning story here — a 57% freshman retention rate and 59% graduation rate suggest many students struggle to finish, and with median earnings of just $48,000 a decade out, the $42,168/year net price is a tough sell financially. Beyond the finances, it's worth knowing that CCA announced plans to close in early 2026, which raises serious questions about long-term accreditation, degree value, and student support during any wind-down period. Unless you have a very specific reason to enroll here, this is a school to approach with significant caution right now.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (1,004 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
California College of the Arts
1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107-2247
Official Links
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San Diego State University
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University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public
University of California-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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