School Overview
California College of the Arts is an elite fine arts and design school with campuses in San Francisco and Oakland. It offers degree programs in photography, fashion design, creative writing, architecture, interior design, graphic design, film, illustration, animation, and other disciplines.
This school has a rolling admissions policy, (a policy where applications are reviewed year-round), but prospective students should apply early.
Since the California College of the Arts is one of the nation’s best art and design schools, tuition rates are high. However, numerous financial aid options are available to qualifying students. Many students qualify for school scholarships in addition to federal loans and Pell grants and other forms of aid.
General Information
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Admission Office 1111 Eighth Street San Francisco, CA 94107-2247 (415) 703-9523 (800) 447-1278 Fax: (415) 703-9539 [email protected] Contact: Robynne Royster Director of Undergraduate Admission |
Main Address 1111 Eighth Street San Francisco, CA 94107-2247 (415) 703-9500 www.cca.edu |
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Size Total undergrads: 1,355 First-time degree-seeking freshmen: 248 Degree-seeking undergrads: 1,336 Graduate enrollment: 357 Setting |
Degrees offered: |
Admissions Information
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Application Fee College has an application fee: Yes Regular application fee: $50 Online application fee: $50 |
Enrollment Rates Percent applicants admitted: 77% Percent students who return sophomore year: 78% |
Tuition & Fees
| Estimated Expenses for Academic Year | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
| Tuition and fees | $29,570 | $31,382 | $33,254 | $35,222 | +5.92% |
| Books and Supplies | $1,490 | $1,500 | $1,500 | $1,500 | 0.00% |
| Living Arrangement – On Campus | |||||
| Room and Board | $9,250 | $9,450 | $9,650 | $9,850 | +2.07% |
| Other | $3,300 | $3,450 | $3,450 | $3,450 | 0.00% |
| Living Arrangement – Off Campus | |||||
| Room and Board | $9,350 | $9,350 | $9,450 | $9,450 | 0.00% |
| Other | $4,010 | $4,160 | $4,160 | $4,160 | 0.00% |
| Total Expenses | 2008-’09 | 2009-’10 | 2010-’11 | 2011-’12 | % change 2010-’12 |
| In-state On Campus | $43,610 | $45,782 | $47,854 | $50,022 | +4.53% |
| In-state Off Campus | $44,420 | $46,392 | $48,364 | $50,332 | +4.07% |
| In-state with Family | $31,060 | $32,882 | $34,754 | $36,722 | +5.66% |
| Average Graduate Student Tuition & Fees | |
| Tuition for In-state Students | $36,360 |
| In-state Student Fees | $350 |
| Tuition for Out-of-state Students | $36,360 |
| Out-of-state Fees | $350 |
Financial Aid
| Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students | ||||
| Type of Aid | Students | Percent | Amount | Average Per Student |
| All students financial aid | 220 | 89% | ||
| Grant or scholarship aid | 215 | 87% | $3,180,423 | $14,793 |
| • Federal grants | 64 | 26% | $312,516 | $4,883 |
| • Pell grants | 62 | 25% | $228,231 | $3,681 |
| • Other federal grants | 46 | 19% | $84,285 | $1,832 |
| State/local government grant or scholarships | 24 | 10% | $140,163 | $5,840 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 215 | 87% | $2,727,744 | $12,687 |
| Student loan aid | 142 | 57% | $916,427 | $6,454 |
| • Federal student loans | 141 | 57% | $729,334 | $5,173 |
| • Other student loans | 12 | 5% | $187,093 | $15,591 |
All Degrees and Programs
| Program Completions for Most Recent Year | BA/BS | MA/MS | Doctor | AA/AS | CERT |
| Total of All Education Programs | 255 | 181 | – | – | – |
| Architecture and Related Services | 22 | 28 | – | – | – |
| Architecture | 22 | 28 | – | – | – |
| Communication and Journalism Programs | 4 | 6 | – | – | – |
| Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia | 4 | 6 | – | – | – |
| Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects | 4 | – | – | – | – |
| English Language, Composition and Literature/Letters | 9 | 28 | – | – | – |
| Creative Writing | 9 | 28 | – | – | – |
| Precision Production Trades | 3 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Furniture Design and Manufacturing | 3 | 1 | – | – | – |
| Visual and Performing Arts | 213 | 118 | – | – | – |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation | – | 13 | – | – | – |
| Ceramic Arts and Ceramics | 5 | 4 | – | – | – |
| Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry | 6 | – | – | – | – |
| Design and Visual Communications | – | 22 | – | – | – |
| Fashion/Apparel Design | 20 | – | – | – | – |
| Fiber, Textile and Weaving Arts | 5 | 2 | – | – | – |
| Fine and Studio Arts Management | – | 25 | – | – | – |
| Fine/Studio Arts | 4 | 8 | – | – | – |
| Graphic Design | 29 | – | – | – | – |
| Illustration | 28 | – | – | – | – |
| Industrial and Product Design | 11 | – | – | – | – |
| Interior Design | 15 | – | – | – | – |
| Intermedia/Multimedia | 14 | – | – | – | – |
| Metal and Jewelry Arts | 9 | – | – | – | – |
| Painting | 28 | 25 | – | – | – |
| Photography | 19 | 5 | – | – | – |
| Printmaking | 13 | 5 | – | – | – |
| Sculpture | 7 | 9 | – | – | – |
Above data represent first majors only.
(-) Indicates that program is not offered at this award level.
Undergraduate Majors
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Architecture & Related Programs Architecture B Arts, Visual & Performing Art – General B English Language & Literature Creative Writing B |
Degree levels for each major are designated by the following letters:
B = Bachelor’s degree C = Certificate or diploma |
*We do not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
California College of the Arts Highlights
School Information
| Phone Number: | (510) 594-3600 |
| Website: | www.cca.edu |
| Type of School: | 4-year, Private non-profit |
| Apply Online: | www.cca.edu/admissions/apply |
| Address: | 1111 Eighth Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-2247 |
| Setting: | City: Large |
| Campus Housing: | Yes |
Students & Programs
| Student Population: | 1,860 |
| 6-yr Graduation Rate (Bachelor's): | 61% |
| Student-to-faculty Ratio: | 8 to 1 |
| Distance Learning Programs: | Yes |
| Distance Learning Students*: | 1,837 (99% of total students) |
| Degree Levels Offered: | Bachelor's, Master's |
* Students taking at least 1 distance learning course
Tuition & Financial Aid*
| In-state Tuition: | $51,092 |
| Out-of-state Tuition: | $51,092 |
| % of Students Receiving Financial Aid: | 86% |
| Avg. Amount of Grant or Scholarship Aid Awarded: | $24,342 |
* Full-time beginning undergraduate students. Financial aid is available to those who qualify.
California College of the Arts Programs
See the degree programs that are offered at California College of the Arts.
| Degree Name | Cert | Assoc | Bach | Mast | Doct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture and Related Services | 1 | 1 | |||
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services | 1 | ||||
| Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services | 1 | 1 | |||
| English Language and Literature/Letters | 1 | 1 | |||
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 1 | 2 | |||
| Precision Production | 1 | ||||
| Visual and Performing Arts | 17 | 5 | |||
| Grand total | 22 | 11 |
* Based on programs that produced 2019-2020 graduates
Tuition & Financial Aid
See what it costs to enroll at California College of the Arts and how many students are receiving scholarships, grants, or loans as financial aid to help cover the costs of tuition.
Undergraduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $51,092 |
| Out-of-state | $51,092 |
| Books and supplies | $1,500 |
Graduate Student Tuition
Average tuition and fees for academic year:
| Tuition and Fees | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|
| In-state | $53,750 |
| Out-of-state | $53,750 |
Undergraduate Student Financial Aid, 2018-2019
Full-time Beginning Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any student financial aid | 225 | 86% | – |
| Grant or scholarship aid | 224 | 85% | $24,342 |
| Student loan aid | 91 | 35% | $7,477 |
All Undergraduate Students
| Type of Aid | Number Receiving Aid | % Receiving Aid | Avg. Amt. of Aid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant or scholarship aid | 1,047 | 71% | $22,758 |
| Federal student loans | 509 | 35% | $7,586 |
Admissions & Enrollment
See the admission requirements for California College of the Arts. Find out how many students apply and how many are accepted. View a graphical breakdown of the gender, age, and ethnicity of currently enrolled California College of the Arts students.
Undergraduate Admissions, Fall 2020
| Total | Male | Female | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of applicants | 2,578 | 685 | 1,893 | Percent admitted | 100% | 81% | 86% |
| Percent admitted who enrolled | 10% | 11% | 9% |
Admissions Considerations
| Required | Recommended | Optional | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary school GPA | |||
| Secondary school rank | |||
| Secondary school record | |||
| Completion of college-preparatory program | |||
| Recommendations | |||
| Formal demonstration of competencies | |||
| Admission test scores | |||
| Other Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.) | |||
| TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language |
California College of the Arts Enrollment, Fall 2020
| Total Enrollment | 1,860 |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,466 |
| Graduate enrollment | 394 |
Undergraduate Attendance
Undergraduate Gender
Undergraduate Age
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
Undergraduate Distance Education
Undergraduates taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
Graduate Distance Education
Graduate students taking 100%, Some, or No Distance Education
California College of the Arts Accreditation
This institution is accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission
Specialized institution accreditations:
*General information for this school has been gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) database, a service provided by the U.S. Department of Education. CollegeAtlas.org does not guarantee the accuracy of information on this page. All information is subject to change. You should confirm all information with a college admissions officer.
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