About

About California Institute of the Arts

arts conservatorysmall class sizesinterdisciplinary arts focusprivate arts college

California Institute of the Arts is a private university in Valencia, CA, known for its arts conservatory, small class sizes, and interdisciplinary arts focus. With an acceptance rate of 25%, California Institute of the Arts is highly selective, typically enrolling around 189 students each year. California Institute of the Arts is test optional; submitting a strong score can strengthen an application, though it is not required for consideration. California Institute of the Arts offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $24,479 per year; the sticker price of $75,927 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

California Institute of the Arts acceptance rate and admitted student profile

highly selective

25%
Overall Accept Rate

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to California Institute of the Arts

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Application Strategy
At CalArts, your portfolio or audition is the central factor in your admission decision, so dedicate the majority of your preparation time to creating work that reflects your distinct artistic voice rather than trying to show technical polish alone.
Application Strategy
CalArts is organized into six distinct schools including Art, Film/Video, Music, Theater, Dance, and Critical Studies, so research your specific program deeply and make sure your application materials speak directly to the faculty and community within that school.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What California Institute of the Arts actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$76k/yr$26.7k
30k-48k~$76k/yr$40.9k
48k-75k~$76k/yr$51.8k
75k-110k~$76k/yr$38.6k
110k+~$76k/yr$58.9k

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

64%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$28k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
5:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
1,008
Undergrad Enrollment