California Institute of the Arts
- Graduation Rate
- 65% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,198 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $46,080 F
- 169% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 32% A
- Admits roughly 32% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 7.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $7.9 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $7.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,263,900.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $7.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why California Institute of the Arts Matters
California Institute of the Arts is a private university in Valencia, CA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 860
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose California Institute of the Arts
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Selective — admits about 32% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $46,080 a year after grants and scholarships — 169% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,198 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $25,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.9% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 80% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.82 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
California Institute of the Arts has an acceptance rate of just 32%, attracting a selective group of 860 students who are passionate about the arts. This small, vibrant community is dedicated to visual and performing arts, making it a unique environment for creativity and collaboration.
Graduates from CalArts earn a median income of $41,198 ten years after enrollment. While there’s no specific mobility rate available, the school’s focus on arts education often leads to diverse career paths. Students can expect a challenging yet rewarding experience that fosters individual growth and artistic expression.
The net price to attend is $46,080, with a median debt of $25,000. Financial aid is available, with 24% of students receiving Pell Grants. Students who thrive here are typically those with a strong commitment to their craft and a desire to push the boundaries of artistic expression.
Can I Get In?
How selective California Institute of the Arts is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into California Institute of the Arts? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Valencia, California, California Institute of the Arts reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 32%. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 32%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 45%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,095
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 7:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.78
- First-Gen Students
- 16%
- Applicants
- 2,120
- Admitted
- 525
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California Institute of the Arts? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California Institute of the Arts is $58,996, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $46,080. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,686 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $58,996
- Out-of-State
- $58,996
- Avg Net Price
- $46,080
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 36%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $26,686
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $40,899
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $51,847
- Family Income $110K+
- $58,873
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at California Institute of the Arts — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is California Institute of the Arts Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California Institute of the Arts report median earnings of $41,198, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $28,018
- 8 Years
- $36,250
- 10 Years
- $41,198
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.61x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (105)
- 56%
- 100% (105)
- 56%
- 100% (105)
- 56%
- 100% (105)
- 56%
How California Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is California Institute of the Arts Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, California Institute of the Arts delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $46,080/year ($184,320 total). Graduates earn $41,198 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,448,220 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,263,900 (7.9× your investment). The median debt is $25,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 65% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $184,320
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,448,220
- Net Return
- $1,263,900
- ROI Multiple
- 7.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $46,080
- Median Debt
- $25,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does California Institute of the Arts Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
California Institute of the Arts is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.94%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $108,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.94%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 8.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $147,685
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $3,459,062
- Investment Income
- $-13,240,702
Top Programs
The fields California Institute of the Arts awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 73% $59,219 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 3%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for California Institute of the Arts's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Software Developer$132,270 · 25% growthVulnerable 40
- C+Blockchain Developer$130,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-DevOps Engineer$128,000 · 22% growthAdaptable 52
- CProduct Manager$125,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 52
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into California Institute of the Arts? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Valencia, California, California Institute of the Arts reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 32%. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend California Institute of the Arts? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at California Institute of the Arts is $58,996, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $46,080. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,686 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,000 in federal student loans.
Is California Institute of the Arts Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of California Institute of the Arts report median earnings of $41,198, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does California Institute of the Arts Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
California Institute of the Arts is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.94%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $108,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is California Institute of the Arts? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California Institute of the Arts. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to California Institute of the Arts.
- Bennington CollegeBennington, VT · Close peer69% grad $38,289 earn 45% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis, MN · Close peer59% grad $40,873 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Milwaukee Institute of Art & DesignMilwaukee, WI · Close peer65% grad $41,174 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Casa Loma College-Los AngelesSherman Oaks, CA · Close peer69% grad $49,854 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size · same state
- Crown CollegeSaint Bonifacius, MN · Close peer54% grad $48,057 earn 23% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Ohio Christian UniversityCircleville, OH · Close peer35% grad $39,813 earn 38% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is California Institute of the Arts? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at California Institute of the Arts. Its economic connectedness score is 1.82, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note