California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA · Private four-year · City: Large
1,012undergraduates
91%admitted
Test-blind (scores not considered)SAT/ACT
$49,945average net price per year
59%graduate in 6 years
57%return for year two
Admissions
- Applicants
- 3,661
- Admitted
- 2,687
- Admit rate
- 91%
- Admit rate, women
- 76%
- Admit rate, men
- 67%
- Admitted students who enroll
- 7%
- First-year students
- 186
- SAT/ACT
- Test-blind (scores not considered)
| High school GPA | Required |
|---|---|
| High school record | Required |
| College-prep coursework | Considered, not required |
| SAT or ACT scores | Not considered |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Essay or personal statement | Not considered |
| Class rank | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Required |
| English proficiency test | Required |
| Work experience | Not considered |
| Legacy status | Not considered |
Majors
20 undergraduate programs that awarded a degree or certificate last year, grouped by field. Numbers are how many were awarded.
Visual and performing arts (13)
- Ceramic Arts and Ceramics Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Fashion/Apparel Design Bachelor's (19 awarded)
- Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Game and Interactive Media Design Bachelor's (2 awarded)
- Illustration Bachelor's (36 awarded)
- Industrial and Product Design Bachelor's (27 awarded)
- Intermedia/Multimedia Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Jewelry Arts Bachelor's (6 awarded)
- Painting Bachelor's (15 awarded)
- Photography Bachelor's (5 awarded)
- Printmaking Bachelor's (3 awarded)
- Sculpture Bachelor's (4 awarded)
Communications technologies/technicians and support services (1)
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects Bachelor's (51 awarded)
Computer and information sciences and support services (1)
- Computer Graphics Bachelor's (38 awarded)
Architecture and related services (2)
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology Bachelor's (10 awarded)
- Interior Architecture Bachelor's (11 awarded)
Multi/interdisciplinary studies (1)
- Human Computer Interaction Bachelor's (20 awarded)
English language and literature/letters (1)
- Creative Writing Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Precision production (1)
- Furniture Design and Manufacturing Bachelor's (2 awarded)
Graduate programs (10)
- Art History, Criticism and Conservation Master's
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production Master's
- Design and Visual Communications, General Master's
- Fine/Studio Arts, General Master's
- Human Computer Interaction Master's
- Museology/Museum Studies Master's
- Management Science Master's
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects Master's
- Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology Master's
- Creative Writing Master's
Cost and aid
- Tuition and fees, in-state
- $57,946
- Housing and food on campus
- $21,165
- Books and supplies
- $1,500
- Other on-campus costs
- $3,798
- Total cost on campus, in-state
- $84,409
- Total cost on campus, out-of-state
- $84,409
- Total cost living at home
- $64,675
Published prices for 2023-24.
| Family income | Per year |
|---|---|
| $0-30,000 | $32,800 |
| $30,001-48,000 | $28,423 |
| $48,001-75,000 | $42,404 |
| $75,001-110,000 | $44,139 |
| Over $110,000 | $52,438 |
Net price is the full cost minus grants and scholarships, for full-time first-year students who got aid in 2022-23.
- First-year students who got any aid
- 85%
- Got grants or scholarships
- 85%
- Average grant or scholarship
- $29,175
- Got a grant from the college
- 85%
- Average grant from the college
- $27,116
- Undergraduates with a Pell grant
- 25%
- First-year students who borrowed
- 52%
- Average amount borrowed
- $9,197
Graduation
- Bachelor's in 4 years
- 39%
- Bachelor's in 5 years
- 55%
- Bachelor's in 6 years
- 59%
- Bachelor's in 8 years
- 68%
- Any degree in 6 years (all students)
- 59%
- Came back for year two
- 57%
| Pell grant students | 60% |
|---|---|
| Subsidized loan, no Pell | 68% |
| Neither | 55% |
| Group | Students | Graduated |
|---|---|---|
| Women | 162 | 57% |
| Men | 73 | 62% |
| Asian | 29 | 66% |
| Black | 13 | 54% (small group) |
| Hispanic | 42 | 60% |
| White | 56 | 52% |
| Two or more races | 12 | 58% (small group) |
| Race unknown | 4 | 0% (small group) |
| International | 79 | 65% |
| Started | Students | Earned a degree or certificate here | Enrolled at another college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Started here, full-time | 240 | 83% | 7% |
| Transferred in, full-time | 139 | 53% | 21% |
| Transferred in, part-time | 2 | 50% (small group) | 0% |
Graduation rates follow students who started full-time for the first time in fall 2017. Groups under 20 students are marked because a few students change the rate a lot.
Students
- Total students
- 1,333
- Undergraduates
- 1,012
- Full-time undergraduates
- 934
- Part-time undergraduates
- 78
- Graduate students
- 321
- Students per faculty member
- 7 to 1
- Undergraduates age 25 and up
- 10%
- Undergraduates taking all classes online
- 0%
- Undergraduates registered with disability services
- 21%
| Women | 67% |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0% |
| Asian | 16% |
| Black | 3% |
| Hispanic | 16% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 0% |
| White | 21% |
| Two or more races | 6% |
| Race unknown | 4% |
| International | 34% |
Campus life
- Setting
- City: Large
- Address
- 145 Hooper Street, San Francisco, CA, 94107-2247
- County
- San Francisco County
- Type
- Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools
- Highest degree
- Master's degree
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Offers
- Study abroad, Credit for AP exams, Yellow Ribbon (veterans)
Source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2022-23 to 2024-25 surveys), and the College Scorecard.