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PrivateUrban

California Institute of Integral Studies

CIIS

San Francisco, California 94103

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivate

Known for psychology — close-knit campus

California Institute of Integral Studies is a private urban institution in San Francisco, California. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 57 undergraduates with a 17:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

graduates earn a median of $48,848 a decade after enrollment.

Established
1968
Type
Private university

Campus Visits

44 upcoming visits · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

Acceptance
SAT Avg
57Students
17:1Student:Faculty
Grad Rate
$48,848Earnings 10yr

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

California Institute of Integral Studies Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions Intel

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition
Median Debt at Graduation$18,750
Monthly Payment (10yr)$199

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

50.6%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$18,750

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

0

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

0

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

0

Drug Arrests

0

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (27)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

85%

Mixed
  • 85% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
57
Gender Split
81% / 19%
Women / Men
Pell Grant Recipients
54%

Race & Ethnicity

White 49%
Black 16%
Hispanic 12%
Asian 4%
Two+ 16%

Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$56,360
10 Years$48,848

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • Watts taught Buddhist, Taoist, and Hindu philosophy and religion, and established the AAAS as a meeting place for the countercultural movement known as the San Francisco Renaissance.
  • By 1952 the AAAS was in financial decline, after Gainsborough suffered serious business losses.
  • The conservative college administration, dissatisfied with Watts' leadership, pushed him out in 1956.
  • Esalen cofounders Murphy and Price first met at the CIF in 1960, despite both having previously attended the AAAS, and Spiegelberg's lectures at Stanford.
  • Murphy had lived at the Sri Aurobindo ashram in India from June 1956 to October 1957, and was now living, meditating, and studying at the CIF house, where he invited Price to room with him.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

SFO San Francisco11 mi
SJC San Jose39 mi
SMF Sacramento78 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2693 mi · ~77h 48m drive
New York, NY2566 mi · ~74h 8m drive
Hartford, CT2619 mi · ~75h 40m drive
Providence, RI2682 mi · ~77h 29m drive
Albany, NY2554 mi · ~73h 47m drive
Syracuse, NY2430 mi · ~70h 12m drive
Rochester, NY2356 mi · ~68h 4m drive
Buffalo, NY2294 mi · ~66h 16m drive
Philadelphia, PA2517 mi · ~72h 43m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2260 mi · ~65h 17m drive
Harrisburg, PA2423 mi · ~70h drive
Newark, NJ2557 mi · ~73h 52m drive
Washington, DC2435 mi · ~70h 21m drive
Baltimore, MD2451 mi · ~70h 48m drive
Atlanta, GA2135 mi · ~61h 41m drive
Charlotte, NC2297 mi · ~66h 21m drive
Raleigh, NC2405 mi · ~69h 29m drive
Miami, FL2591 mi · ~74h 51m drive
Orlando, FL2437 mi · ~70h 24m drive
Tampa, FL2396 mi · ~69h 13m drive
Nashville, TN1958 mi · ~56h 34m drive
New Orleans, LA1922 mi · ~55h 31m drive
Richmond, VA2436 mi · ~70h 22m drive
Chicago, IL1855 mi · ~53h 35m drive
Detroit, MI2087 mi · ~60h 17m drive
Minneapolis, MN1581 mi · ~45h 40m drive
St. Louis, MO1741 mi · ~50h 18m drive
Kansas City, MO1503 mi · ~43h 25m drive
Indianapolis, IN1945 mi · ~56h 11m drive
Columbus, OH2109 mi · ~60h 56m drive
Cleveland, OH2162 mi · ~62h 27m drive
Milwaukee, WI1838 mi · ~53h 6m drive
Dallas, TX1481 mi · ~42h 47m drive
Houston, TX1642 mi · ~47h 26m drive
Austin, TX1500 mi · ~43h 20m drive
San Antonio, TX1487 mi · ~42h 57m drive
Los Angeles, CA347 mi · ~10h 1m drive
San Francisco, CA0 mi · ~0 min drive
San Diego, CA458 mi · ~13h 14m drive
Seattle, WA679 mi · ~19h 37m drive
Portland, OR535 mi · ~15h 27m drive
Denver, CO947 mi · ~27h 21m drive
Phoenix, AZ653 mi · ~18h 52m drive
Salt Lake City, UT599 mi · ~17h 18m drive
Honolulu, HI2395 mi · ~69h 11m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

San Francisco (SFO)11 miles
Rental car
17 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
22 min$13-22
San Jose (SJC)39 miles
Rental car
59 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
78 min$47-78

California Institute of Integral Studies Application Checklist

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