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California College of the Arts

San Francisco, California 94107-2247

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitUrbanInternational

Close-knit campus

California College of the Arts is a private urban institution in San Francisco, California. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 1K undergraduates with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

59% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $49,414 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $42,168.

Established
1907
Type
Private art school

Campus Visits

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73%Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,004Students
7:1Student:Faculty
59%Grad Rate
$49,414Earnings 10yr
$42,168Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate73.4%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$57,946
Room & Board$21,165
Books & Supplies$1,500
Total Cost of Attendance$78,664
Average Net Price$42,168
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$32,800
$30–48K$28,423
$48–75K$42,404
$75–110K$44,139
$110K+$52,438

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

54.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

4.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$19,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

8

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

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

Programs (23)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

57%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
1,004
Gender Split
67% / 33%
Women / Men
First Generation
24%
Pell Grant Recipients
25%

Race & Ethnicity

White 20%
Black 3%
Hispanic 16%
Asian 16%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 34%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate58.7%
Freshman Retention57.4%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$38,308
10 Years$49,414

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

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • In 1908 the school was renamed California School of Arts and Crafts.
  • In 1910, the school moved to the site of the former Berkeley High School building at 2119 Allston Way (at Grove Street, now Martin Luther King Way).
  • The college's Oakland campus location was acquired in 1922, when Meyer bought the four-acre James Treadwell estate at Broadway and College Avenue.
  • In 1936, it became the California College of Arts and Crafts (CCAC).
  • In 1940 a Master of Fine Arts program was established.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

163Very High

Estimated from CA state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 5"Sunny days: 250Rainy days: 75

Nearest Cities

San Franciscopop. 870K
1 mi(2 min)
Los Angelespop. 3.9M
346 mi(600 min)
San Diegopop. 1.4M
457 mi(792 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

SFO San Francisco10 mi
SJC San Jose38 mi
SMF Sacramento78 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2692 mi · ~77h 46m drive
New York, NY2565 mi · ~74h 6m drive
Hartford, CT2619 mi · ~75h 40m drive
Providence, RI2681 mi · ~77h 27m drive
Albany, NY2553 mi · ~73h 45m drive
Syracuse, NY2429 mi · ~70h 10m drive
Rochester, NY2355 mi · ~68h 2m drive
Buffalo, NY2294 mi · ~66h 16m drive
Philadelphia, PA2516 mi · ~72h 41m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2259 mi · ~65h 16m drive
Harrisburg, PA2422 mi · ~69h 58m drive
Newark, NJ2556 mi · ~73h 50m drive
Washington, DC2434 mi · ~70h 19m drive
Baltimore, MD2450 mi · ~70h 47m drive
Atlanta, GA2135 mi · ~61h 41m drive
Charlotte, NC2296 mi · ~66h 20m drive
Raleigh, NC2404 mi · ~69h 27m drive
Miami, FL2590 mi · ~74h 49m drive
Orlando, FL2436 mi · ~70h 22m drive
Tampa, FL2396 mi · ~69h 13m drive
Nashville, TN1958 mi · ~56h 34m drive
New Orleans, LA1921 mi · ~55h 30m drive
Richmond, VA2435 mi · ~70h 21m drive
Chicago, IL1854 mi · ~53h 34m drive
Detroit, MI2086 mi · ~60h 16m drive
Minneapolis, MN1581 mi · ~45h 40m drive
St. Louis, MO1740 mi · ~50h 16m drive
Kansas City, MO1503 mi · ~43h 25m drive
Indianapolis, IN1944 mi · ~56h 10m drive
Columbus, OH2108 mi · ~60h 54m drive
Cleveland, OH2161 mi · ~62h 26m drive
Milwaukee, WI1838 mi · ~53h 6m drive
Dallas, TX1480 mi · ~42h 45m drive
Houston, TX1641 mi · ~47h 24m drive
Austin, TX1499 mi · ~43h 18m drive
San Antonio, TX1486 mi · ~42h 56m drive
Los Angeles, CA346 mi · ~10h drive
San Francisco, CA1 mi · ~2 min drive
San Diego, CA457 mi · ~13h 12m drive
Seattle, WA680 mi · ~19h 39m drive
Portland, OR536 mi · ~15h 29m drive
Denver, CO946 mi · ~27h 20m drive
Phoenix, AZ652 mi · ~18h 50m drive
Salt Lake City, UT599 mi · ~17h 18m drive
Honolulu, HI2396 mi · ~69h 13m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Deadline Calendar

California College of the Arts Application Checklist

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