California Institute of the Arts
Valencia, CA 91355-2397
About California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts is a private research university in Valencia, California, enrolling about 860 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 32.34% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $41,198 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- California Institute of the Arts charges about 2.0× the national private non-profit median tuition ($58,996).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 7.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 66.67%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $41,198.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Institute of the Arts | $58,996 | $46,080 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| California (state median) | $8,093 | $8,343 | 287 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 22% below published tuition at California Institute of the Arts
Key findings
- California Institute of the Arts's average net price ($46,080) is 22% below published tuition ($58,996).
- California Institute of the Arts charges about 2.0× the national private non-profit median tuition ($58,996).
- Versus the California median, sticker tuition is about 7.3×.
California Institute of the Arts tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $58,996
Finding California Institute of the Arts charges about 2.0× the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $58,996. That is about 2.0× the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the California median ($8,093), sticker tuition is about 7.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 5.0×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at California Institute of the Arts versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at California Institute of the Arts versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at California Institute of the Arts is $46,080.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $46,080 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $37,737 above the California median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $27,380 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway California Institute of the Arts’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 22% lower after grants and scholarships.
California Institute of the Arts: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for California Institute of the Arts—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$58,996
Avg. net price
$46,080
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $26,686 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $40,899 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $51,847 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $38,627 |
| $110,001+ | $58,873 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $235,984. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What California Institute of the Arts is known for
Top program completions
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects72
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production45
- Acting41
- Fine/Studio Arts, General40
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology30
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Selective — about half of applicants (or fewer) are admitted.
- Yield: 34% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is California Institute of the Arts a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
California Institute of the Arts is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for California Institute of the Arts.
Campus
Location
Valencia, CA
City / state
- ZIP
- 91355-2397
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is about 2.5× the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Size
Enrollment
860
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 891
- Graduate
- 409
- Full-time share
- 99%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 24.24%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for California Institute of the Arts.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at California Institute of the Arts was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for California Institute of the Arts in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $40,536 | $40,536 | $42,600 |
| 2014 | $42,260 | $42,260 | $44,478 |
| 2015 | $43,986 | $43,986 | $46,197 |
| 2016 | $45,646 | $45,646 | $49,256 |
| 2017 | $47,446 | $47,446 | $46,101 |
| 2018 | $49,276 | $49,276 | $47,921 |
| 2019 | $51,466 | $51,466 | $50,412 |
| 2020 | $53,466 | $53,466 | $56,876 |
| 2021 | $53,466 | $53,466 | $46,083 |
| 2022 | $55,056 | $55,056 | $47,528 |
| 2023 | $56,724 | $56,724 | $48,536 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
California Institute of the Arts reported total enrollment of about 860 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 40% male and 60% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (32.1%), Non-Resident Alien (25.7%), and Hispanic or Latino (17.2%). About 24.24% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 15.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
99.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at California Institute of the Arts in 2024 is 860 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 891 students. Graduate enrollment is about 409 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.4%
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.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
41.45% 100% Completion Time
66.67% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 41.45% of students graduating from California Institute of the Arts completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects: 28% male / 72% female
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 27% male / 73% female
- Acting: 32% male / 68% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
California Institute of the Arts graduates earn a median of $41,198 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of California Institute of the Arts.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $41,198. Median federal loan debt: $25,000. Average net price used in cost models: $46,080.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway California Institute of the Arts graduates report median earnings of $41,198 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for California Institute of the Arts.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (24 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at California Institute of the Arts.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for California Institute of the Arts graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for California Institute of the Arts—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$221.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- California median 11× the median ($19.7M)
- Far West median 13× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 8.4× the median ($26.4M)
- California median 20× the median ($7,407)
- Far West median 20× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 12× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 44.7%
- California median 5.4 pp above median (39.3%)
- Far West median 0.9 pp below median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 13.2 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $10,095
- California median near the median ($10,166)
- Far West median near the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.3× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $34,675
- California median 5.4× the median ($6,474)
- Far West median 4.9× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 4.8× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
California Institute of the Arts at a glance
California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts is a private non-profit institution in Valencia, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special EffectsCinematography and Film/Video ProductionActing
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian32.1%Non-Resident Alien25.7%Hispanic or Latino17.2%
Schools near California Institute of the Arts
Other campuses in Valencia, CA when available, plus nearby institutions in California.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C) within California, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is California Institute of the Arts located?
California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA.
What is California Institute of the Arts's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at California Institute of the Arts is 32.3% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 2,023 applicants and 525 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is California Institute of the Arts's tuition?
California Institute of the Arts tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $58,996 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $46,080 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does California Institute of the Arts cost?
Reported tuition is $58,996 and average net price is $46,080 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $14,134 annually.
Why is California Institute of the Arts's net price so much lower than tuition?
At California Institute of the Arts, published tuition is $58,996 while average net price is $46,080—about 22% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains California Institute of the Arts's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($46,080), completion (66.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($41,198). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts reports undergraduate enrollment of about 891 students, White (32.1%), Non-Resident Alien (25.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend California Institute of the Arts?
About 15.7% of students at California Institute of the Arts are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of California Institute of the Arts earn?
Median earnings are $28,018 six years after entry and $41,198 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of the Arts?
The 150%-time completion rate is 66.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do California Institute of the Arts students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is California Institute of the Arts public or private?
California Institute of the Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in Valencia, CA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.