California College of the Arts

www.cca.edu

Add Comparison

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$59,376

3.99% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$46,823

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

91.1%

2,371 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

1,308

95.3% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

61.2%

161 Graduates

About

California College of the Arts is a higher education institution located in San Francisco County, CA. In 2024, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at California College of the Arts were Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, & Special Effects (51 degrees awarded), Computer Graphics (38 degrees), and Illustration (36 degrees).

In 2024, 444 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at California College of the Arts. 67.1% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 32.9% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (83 degrees), 1.54 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (54 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at California College of the Arts is $59,376, which is $44,479 more than the national average for Special Focus Institutions ($14,897).

Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools Special Focus Institutions

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at California College of the Arts is $59,376, which is $44,479 more than the national average for Special Focus Institutions ($14,897).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $46,823.

In 2024, 84% of undergraduate students attending California College of the Arts received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 48% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$59,376

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at California College of the Arts was $59,376. The cost of tuition at California College of the Arts is $44,479 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Special Focus Institutions ($14,897).

This chart compares the tuition costs of California College of the Arts (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$46,823

2024 Value

6.25%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 California College of the Arts had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $46,823. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of California College of the Arts grew by 6.25%.

This chart compares the average net price of California College of the Arts (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$21,242

Room and Board

$1,500

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at California College of the Arts was of $21,242 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 5.59% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,500. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at California College of the Arts (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

84%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

48%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

84% of undergraduate students at California College of the Arts received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a decline of 6.67% with respect to 2023, when 90% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at California College of the Arts (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

California College of the Arts received 2,371 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 35.2% annual growth. Out of those 2,371 applicants, 2,160 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 91.1% acceptance rate.

There were 1,308 students enrolled at California College of the Arts in 2024.

California College of the Arts has an overall enrollment yield of 7.96%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

91.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

2,160

Accepted Out of 2,371

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of California College of the Arts was 91.1% (2,160 admissions from 2,371 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 73.4%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 35.2%, while admissions declined by 19.6%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of California College of the Arts (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

Enrollment

California College of the Arts had a total enrollment of 1,308 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at California College of the Arts is 1,246 students and the part-time enrollment is 62. This means that 95.3% of students enrolled at California College of the Arts are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at California College of the Arts, both undergraduate and graduate, is 19.4% White, 14.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 5.81% Two or More Races, 3.59% Black or African American, 0.382% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.153% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at California College of the Arts in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (14.1%), followed by Asian Female (11.9%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (11.7%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (8.46%), followed by Asian Female (5.58%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (5.25%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

95.3%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at California College of the Arts in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 1,308 students. The full-time enrollment at California College of the Arts is 1,246 and the part-time enrollment is 62. This means that 95.3% of students enrolled at California College of the Arts are enrolled full-time compared with 74.1% at similar Special Focus Institutions.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at California College of the Arts (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

87%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at California College of the Arts was 87%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Special Focus Institutions (76%), California College of the Arts had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at California College of the Arts (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
254 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
189 enrolled students
Asian
177 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at California College of the Arts is 19.4% White, 14.4% Hispanic or Latino, 13.5% Asian, 5.81% Two or More Races, 3.59% Black or African American, 0.382% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.153% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Special Focus Institutions is 39.9% White, 19.4% Hispanic or Latino, and 17% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 100 students (7.65%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 152 more women than men received degrees from California College of the Arts. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at California College of the Arts is white (83 degrees awarded). There were 1.54 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (54 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at California College of the Arts is Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, & Special Effects (51 degrees awarded), followed by Computer Graphics (38 degrees) and Illustration (36 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at California College of the Arts, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Communication Technologies (68 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (30 degrees), and Visual & Performing Arts (214 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California College of the Arts are Elementary & middle school teachers (215,773 people), Other managers (204,451 people), Postsecondary teachers (143,019 people), Secondary school teachers (140,921 people), and Architects, except landscape and naval (119,759 people).

The most specialized majors at California College of the Arts in 2024 are Communication Technologies (68 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (30 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (214 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (66 degrees), and English (9 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California College of the Arts are Surgeons, Agents & business managers of artists, performers, & athletes, Physicians, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at California College of the Arts are Communication Technologies (68 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (30 degrees), Visual & Performing Arts (214 degrees), Interdisciplinary Studies (66 degrees), and English (9 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at California College of the Arts are Elementary & secondary schools (522,225 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (326,353 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (197,369 people), Computer Systems Design (193,024 people), and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (186,397 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by California College of the Arts.

Most Common (2024)

Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, & Special Effects
51 degrees awarded
Computer Graphics
38 degrees awarded
Illustration
36 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at California College of the Arts was Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, & Special Effects with 51 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at California College of the Arts according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

146

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

298

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 146 degrees were awarded to men at California College of the Arts, which is 0.49 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (298).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at California College of the Arts by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 24 degrees were awarded to men at California College of the Arts in Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, & Special Effects, which is 0.545 times less than the 44 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 45 degrees were awarded to men at California College of the Arts in Human Computer Interaction, which is 2.25 times more than the 20 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

54%

100% Completion Time

72%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 54% of students graduating from California College of the Arts completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 72% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 73% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Special Focus Institutions Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
83 degrees awarded
Asian
54 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
49 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at California College of the Arts is white (83 degrees awarded). There were 1.54 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (54 degrees).

3.6% of degree recipients (16 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
147 degrees awarded
White Female
134 degrees awarded
White Female
123 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at California College of the Arts is white female (147 degrees awarded). There were 1.1 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (134 degrees).

Operations

California College of the Arts has an endowment valued at nearly $42.6M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 7.74M (18.1%) compared to the 2.96% average return (416k on 14.1M) across all Special Focus Institutions.

In 2024, California College of the Arts had a total salary expenditure of 76M. California College of the Arts employs 33 Associate professors, 27 Professors and 14 Assistant professors. Most academics at California College of the Arts are Female Associate professor (19), Male Professor (14), and Male Associate professor (14).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at California College of the Arts are: Management, with 61 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 40 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 35 employees.

Endowment

$42.6M

2024 Endowment

7.29%

growth from 2023

California College of the Arts has an endowment valued at about $42.6M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of California College of the Arts grew 7.29% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $28.6M higher than than the median endowment of Special Focus Institutions according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at California College of the Arts (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Special Focus Four-Year: Arts, Music & Design Schools Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$39.3M

2024 Salaries

2.57%

decline from 2023

In 2024, California College of the Arts paid a median of $39.3M in salaries, which represents 51.8% of their overall expenditure ($76M) and a 2.57% decline from the previous year. This is compared to a 4.21% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 12% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$7.19M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2024, California College of the Arts paid a total of $7.19M to 74 employees working as instructors, which represents 18.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $213k (6.38%) for similar Special Focus Institutions.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at California College of the Arts were Management with 61 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 40 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 35 employees.

Keep Exploring

University of the Arts

University

California Institute of the Arts

University

Otis College of Art and Design

University

Pacific Northwest College of Art

University

New Hampshire Institute of Art

University