California Institute of the Arts is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Valencia, California. It enrolls 860 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorWestern Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
60/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes72
Value1
Affordability15
Selectivity92
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 32.3%, California Institute of the Arts is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
32.3%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether California Institute of the Arts is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
0.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending California Institute of the Arts isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $46,080 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$46,080
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
36%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$58,996
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,134
Room & Board (off-campus)
$20,500
Books & Supplies
$1,062
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$7,154
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$9,305
Total Cost of Attendance
$77,560
Application fee: $65 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$26,686
$30,001 – $48,000
$40,899
$48,001 – $75,000
$51,847
$75,001 – $110,000
$38,627
Over $110,000
$58,873
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$7,50010%percentile
$16,39825%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$36,00075%percentile
$45,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,000
↓ $5,000
No Pell $12,000
↓ $13,000
Dependent students $15,250
↓ $9,750
Independent students $25,000
—
Female students $15,156
↓ $9,844
Male students $18,000
↓ $7,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $12,000, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
65% of full-time students who enrolled at California Institute of the Arts graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
65%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
84%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered California Institute of the Arts earn a median of $41,198 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$41,198
Earning > $25K
60%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$41,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$61,000
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $15,900, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
9.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 74% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
California Institute of the Arts is home to 860 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
860
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
16%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 32.1%276
International 25.7%221
Hispanic 17.2%148
Asian 9.4%81
Other 7.4%64
Black 5.4%46
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at California Institute of the Arts. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbValencia, California
Housing
Mostly residential486 beds on campus
Adult Learners
11%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
California Institute of the Arts offers
a varied set of programs:
21 distinct programs across
6 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at California Institute of the Arts is 7:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
7:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$299M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,450
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
145 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
145
100%
$90,450
Pros & Cons of California Institute of the Arts
A quick at-a-glance summary of how California Institute of the Arts tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Best for:
Based on the data, California Institute of the Arts is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about California Institute of the Arts
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about California Institute of the Arts.
Is California Institute of the Arts hard to get into?
California Institute of the Arts is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 32.3%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts has an acceptance rate of 32.3%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does California Institute of the Arts cost?
The average net price after aid at California Institute of the Arts is $46,080 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is California Institute of the Arts worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $41,198 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $46,080 per year. That's roughly 0.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is California Institute of the Arts known for?
California Institute of the Arts is best known for its programs in Music, Music, Film & Video Production. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do California Institute of the Arts graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering California Institute of the Arts are $41,198, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is California Institute of the Arts accredited?
Yes. California Institute of the Arts is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission.
How many students attend California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts enrolls 860 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts graduates 65% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is California Institute of the Arts a public or private college?
California Institute of the Arts is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is California Institute of the Arts located?
California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, California.
What programs does California Institute of the Arts offer?
California Institute of the Arts offers 21 distinct programs. The most popular include Music, Music, Film & Video Production.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at California Institute of the Arts?
The student-to-faculty ratio at California Institute of the Arts is 7:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in California
Other colleges in California share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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