California Institute of the Arts 2026 Admission 32%, Cost $7

32.34%

Acceptance Rate

$16,471

Avg.Financial Aid

001132

FAFSA Code

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★ California Institute of the Arts Report Card

Selectivity

32.3% acceptance rate

Academics

B+

67% graduation rate

Class Size

B+

7:1 student-faculty ratio

Value

$58,996 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

★ Key Facts: California Institute of the Arts

Institution: California Institute of the Arts
Type: Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified September 2026. Citable source →

California Institute of the Arts

Type Control of Institution - Public/Private
Private, Not-For-Profit
Acceptance Rate:
N/A
Level
4 Years
Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.
Not applicable
Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.
WASC
Website
www.calarts.edu
Student Population Number of Students attending College
860
On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?
Yes

California Institute of the Arts, founded by Walt Disney in Valencia, is where art students go to think differently. CalArts is not a traditional liberal arts college—it's an intensive creative laboratory where painters, dancers, filmmakers, musicians, and designers collide and challenge each other. Classes are small, faculty are practicing artists, and the philosophy is that your artistic development is the curriculum.

The LA location means internships and connections in entertainment, design, and the creative industries are built into student life. But understand the cost: you're paying premium tuition for proximity to creative industry and peer-level artists, not for a broader education.

Come here only if art is non-negotiable. Leave behind expectations of a traditional college experience.

Location & Contact

Address

24700 W McBean Pky, Valencia, California

Contact

Phone: (661) 255-1050

Find Your School

Rankings

The rankings provided by Forbes and US News are trusted everywhere, as long as US universities are concerned. The ranking of universities by Forbes is done keeping in mind common metrics like acceptance rate, endowment, benefits, and SAT scores, among others. Moreover, Forbes has placed California Institute of the Arts at the 402nd position among other national universities.

Admissions

Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
None
Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.
32.34%
SAT Range
N/A
SAT/ACT
Considered but not required
ACT Range
N/A
High School GPA
Considered but not required
Application Fee
$70
Accept Common App
None

The university is selective in taking in students. Moreover, admission to CIA is moderately difficult. To kickstart the admission process at CIA, the candidates have to fill an application form and submit a fee of $70. As a general rule, securing a good score in a standardised test like SAT or ACT improves an applicant’s chances of securing admission. However, at California Institute of the Arts, the average SAT or ACT scores of students securing admission is not available. As expected, the candidates can complete the process either online or by visiting the school's office at 24700 W McBean Pky, Valencia, California 91355-2397. To gather more information, they can call them at (661) 255-1050.

Full Admission Info Find College Scholarships Request Info

Annual Cost to Attend

Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.
$46,080
Average Annual Cost
$58,996

Additional Costs:

Books And Supplies
$71,135
Other Fees
$616
Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.
$12,069
Budget For Other Expenses
$7,200

Total One Year Cost

$71,135

The next two things to keep in mind before applying to CIA are the tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure. The full-time cost of attendance is approximately $75,718 per year. This cost includes the average annual tuition cost ($51,466), books and supplies ($2,590), room and boarding ($12,524), and budget for other expenses ($7,400). If it sounds unaffordable to the applicant, there are numerous financial aid options available that they can explore.

Explore Programs Explore Student Loans Explore Tuition and Cost

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Doctor's degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

7:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

82%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

N/A

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

N/A

Faculty Overview

56%

Male Professors

44%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

1,010

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

25%

Full-time / Part-time

99% / 1%

Students Gender

Male

45%

US National: 44%

Female

55%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

42%

Unknown

Black

Hispanic

15%

Two or more races

Non Resident alien

19%

Asian

10%

American Indian/Alaska native

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

Geographic Density

High

Unknown Location

34%

Out Of State

47%

In State

19%

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$74,875 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 85% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Freshmen Live on Campus

85%

Undergrads in College Housing

N/A

Averege Housing Cost

$6,650/year

Campus Food

The institution has several dining and meal plan options available to students and the average meal plan cost is around $5,419/year.

Meal Plan Available

Yes

Average Meal Plan Available

$5,419/year

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

N/A

School Colors

N/A

Varsity Athletics Association

N/A

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Not applicable

Total Male Athletes

N/A

Total Female Athletes

N/A

Intramural Sports

N/A

Sports Club

N/A

Campus Security

The college offers on-campus housing facilities to the students who wish to stay on the campus. The normal expense for on-campus housing is $12,524 per year. California Institute of the Arts has several dining and meal plan options for its students and the average meal plan at CIA costs around $5,419 per year. The college has taken a lot of measures to ensure the safety and security of its students. Some of these measures include 24-hr security patrol, campus emergency phones, 24-hr escort safety rides and mobile campus emergency alert. There are around 44% male and 56% female students enrolled at the university.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$26,900/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$37,900/year

Median Total Debt After Graduation The median cumulative federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated.

$21,500 - $27,000

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

$223 - $280

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

92%

Average Aid Per Year

$16,471

Students Receiving Federal Grants

23%

Average Aid Per Year

$5,138

Students Receiving State Aid

10%

Average Aid Per Year

$8,647

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

91%

Average Aid Per Year

$14,394

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$27,509

$30K - $48K

$30,513

$48K - $75K

$23,399

$75K - $110K

$16,924

> $110K

$14,585

As mentioned, if one finds the fees and cost of living at CIA to be on the higher side, the financial aid department of the varsity would be of huge assistance. They can assist students with scholarships, grants, and student loans as well. The average financial aid at California Institute of the Arts is around $14,221 and the federal grant is $5,302. The college provides financial assistance in the form of state-level aid worth $7,521 and institutional aid worth $14,221.

Explore Financial Aid & Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions About California Institute of the Arts

How hard is it to get into California Institute of the Arts?

California Institute of the Arts is selective, with an acceptance rate of 32.3%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does California Institute of the Arts cost?

Tuition at California Institute of the Arts is approximately $58,996 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend California Institute of the Arts?

California Institute of the Arts enrolls approximately 860 students across its programs.

What is the graduation rate at California Institute of the Arts?

The graduation rate at California Institute of the Arts is 67%, reflecting the percentage of students who complete their degree within the standard timeframe.

What is the student-faculty ratio at California Institute of the Arts?

The student-faculty ratio at California Institute of the Arts is 7:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

Is California Institute of the Arts a public or private university?

California Institute of the Arts is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for California Institute of the Arts?

Application deadlines at California Institute of the Arts vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

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California Institute of the Arts — 2026 Profile - Valencia, California

★ California Institute of the Arts Report Card

★ Key Facts: California Institute of the Arts

California Institute of the Arts

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors