More selective than 25% of California colleges we cover.
College Scorecard, Fall 2024 entering class
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $79,776. College Scorecard.
Higher than 49% of California colleges we cover and 63% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median 54%.
Within 6 years · College Scorecard
Higher than 20% of California colleges we cover and 39% of colleges nationwide. U.S. median $53,263.
Median, 10 years after starting · College Scorecard
California College of the Arts acceptance rate & admissions
Of 3,661 applicants, California College of the Arts admitted 2,687 and 186 enrolled (IPEDS, Fall 2023 entering class).
IPEDS Admissions, Fall 2023 entering class
Test scores: College Scorecard, Fall 2024. Other figures: College Scorecard; IPEDS
California College of the Arts tuition, cost & net price
What families actually pay per year, by income
Average net price after grants and scholarships for students who receive federal aid. Tap your income band.
College Scorecard, latest reported year (federal aid recipients)
Sticker price (before aid)
IPEDS 2023-24 cost items; total from College Scorecard
College Scorecard; Urban Institute Education Data Portal
State aid: California residents who meet income, asset and GPA standards may receive a Cal Grant (California Student Aid Commission); apply with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application. Not included in the prices above. California Student Aid Commission
California College of the Arts majors, earnings & careers
California College of the Arts offers 11 bachelor's majors across 6 areas. Earnings below are for this school's graduates of each major, four years after finishing.
- Arts & Design · 4
- Engineering · 2
- Technology & Computing · 2
- Communications & Media · 1
- Humanities & Languages · 1
- Trades & Applied Technology · 1
Highest-earning majors at California College of the Arts
| Major | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|
| Human Computer Interaction | $149,149 | $27,125 |
| Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design | $59,238 | $27,000 |
| Studio Art | $44,012 | $29,250 |
| Graphic Communications | $31,068 | $27,000 |
Quick list of all 11 majors
- Architectural Sciences and Technology—
- Architecture—
- Crafts / Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry—
- Film and Photography—
- Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design$59,238
- Graphic Communications$31,068
- Human Computer Interaction$149,149
- Software and Media Applications—
- Studio Art$44,012
- Woodworking—
- Writing—
— means too few graduates to report earnings.
College Scorecard field of study, latest release
All majors by area with earnings 1 and 4 years out, and debt →Graphic / Interior / Fashion Design → Graphic designer
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to shrink 1.7% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Architecture → Architect
Median annual wage for all workers in this job, not only new graduates. U.S. jobs projected to grow 4.3% from 2025 to 2035.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35
Living in San Francisco
Overall prices in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA area.
BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
2 bedrooms $3,697. Housing costs 95% above the U.S. average.
HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027
January and July average highs. 23 inches of rain a year, almost no snow.
NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
Highest: river flooding (relatively high).
FEMA National Risk Index, San Francisco County
Campus & students
IPEDS fall enrollment; Carnegie Classification; EADA via Urban Institute
San Francisco County at a glance
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year 2024
Compare California College of the Arts with similar schools
Similar private colleges in California by selectivity, graduation rate and size. Tap “Why?” to see where the price difference comes from.
| School | Acceptance | You'd pay | Graduation | Earnings, 10 yrs | Price gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California College of the Arts | 91% | $53,909 | 61% | $49,414 | This school |
| La Sierra University | 92% | $45,566 | 60% | $61,824 | |
| William Jessup University | 93% | $28,062 | 56% | $56,257 | |
| Laguna College of Art and Design | 94% | $42,505 | 52% | $47,867 | |
| Woodbury University | 82% | $33,692 | 60% | $65,668 |
College Scorecard, latest reported year. “You'd pay” follows your residency and income choices above.
Why the price is different
California College of the Arts would cost you $8,343 more per year than La Sierra University, on average.
- Higher sticker price at California College of the Arts, mostly from higher tuition & fees (+$22,516).
- California College of the Arts gives aided families $19,974 more in grants, on average.
| Per year, California resident | California College of the Arts | La Sierra University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition & fees | $60,226 | $37,710 | +$22,516 |
| Books & supplies | $1,500 | $1,350 | +$150 |
| Housing & meals | $21,165 | $11,670 | +$9,495 |
| Personal & travel | $3,798 | $3,978 | −$180 |
| Living-at-home adjustment | −$6,913 | −$3,249 | −$3,664 |
| Sticker price | $79,776 | $51,459 | +$28,317 |
| Average grants | −$25,867 | −$5,893 | −$19,974 |
| You pay | $53,909 | $45,566 | +$8,343 |
“+” means California College of the Arts costs more; “−” means it costs less. Grants are the sticker price minus the net price. Cost items: IPEDS, on-campus budget. Sticker and net price: College Scorecard, latest reported year; the adjustment reconciles the two. Net price is an average for first-time, full-time students receiving federal aid, not a quote.
Common questions about California College of the Arts
What is the California College of the Arts acceptance rate?
California College of the Arts accepts 91% of applicants (College Scorecard). In the latest IPEDS admissions year, 2,687 of 3,661 applicants were admitted.
How much does California College of the Arts cost per year?
The sticker price (cost of attendance) is $79,776 a year. After grants and scholarships, students receiving federal aid pay $53,909 a year on average; families earning $0–30k pay $61,407 and families earning $110k+ pay $56,394.
How much do California College of the Arts graduates earn?
Former California College of the Arts students earn a median $49,414 ten years after starting college, compared with a U.S. median of $53,263 across the colleges we cover.
What is the California College of the Arts graduation rate?
61% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years, and 87% return for their second year.
Is California College of the Arts the right fit for your family?
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Sources on this page: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS; U.S. Census Bureau (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS, Employment Projections); Bureau of Economic Analysis; HUD; NOAA; FEMA; Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-By); Wikidata. “Colleges we cover” means colleges awarding bachelor's degrees to at least 100 undergraduates. Averages are not quotes; confirm costs with the school. How we score
Data: download this school's data (JSON) · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “California College of the Arts: cost, admissions and outcomes,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/california-college-of-the-arts (College Scorecard and IPEDS data).