California Institute of the Arts
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. no major red flags in the data. a private nonprofit school with 860 students.
About This School
California Institute of the Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in Valencia, California with approximately 860 undergraduate students enrolled. The school is moderately selective, accepting approximately 32% of applicants. The average net price after financial aid is $46,080 per year. The graduation rate is 67%, and the typical graduate earns $50,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a private art school in Santa Clarita, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the US created specifically for students of both the visual and performing arts. It offers Bachelor of Fine Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees. It is located about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
Founded as the first U.S. degree-granting school built exclusively for visual and performing arts students, this small Valencia institution (881 undergrads) offers a genuinely specialized creative environment near Los Angeles with an acceptance rate of 26%, meaning it's selective enough to attract serious peers. The numbers tell a mixed story, though: a 64% graduation rate is below average, and while median debt of $25,000 is reasonable, median earnings of $50,600 a decade out reflect the real financial realities of arts careers. Worth considering if you're committed to a professional arts path and have a clear-eyed plan for post-graduation income — this isn't a school where the degree alone pays for itself.
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
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 14% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | 43 | $40,294 | $42,892 | −$2,598 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 36 | $41,192 | $39,775 | +$1,417 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 28 | $29,426 | $43,765 | −$14,339 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 19 | $28,617 | $41,367 | −$12,750 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
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 (860 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Address
California Institute of the Arts
24700 W McBean Pky
Valencia, CA 91355-2397
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
California Institute of the Arts is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts has an acceptance rate of 32%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is California Institute of the Arts hard to get into?
California Institute of the Arts is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of 32%. Solid grades and a complete application give most applicants a real shot.
How much does California Institute of the Arts cost?
The average net price at California Institute of the Arts is about $46,080 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts has a graduation rate of 67%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
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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