California Institute of the Arts Acceptance Rate &
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 Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $58,996
- 2024 Average Net Price: $46,080 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 32.34% Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 860 99.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 66.67%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
- First-Generation Students: 15.7%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 2.1% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 44.7%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 891
- Applicants (IPEDS): 2,023
- Room & Board: $14,134 annual estimate
California Institute of the Arts: what the data shows
Common questions about California Institute of the Arts, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is California Institute of the Arts?
California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (ZIP 91355-2397).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is California Institute of the Arts public or private?
California Institute of the Arts is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does California Institute of the Arts cost?
Published tuition: $58,996.
Average net price after aid: $46,080.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $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.
How hard is it to get into California Institute of the Arts?
Admission rate: 32.34%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is California Institute of the Arts?
Total enrollment: 860 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 891 students.
Graduate enrollment: 409 students.
About 99% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at California Institute of the Arts?
150%-time completion rate: 66.67%.
First-year retention: 82.4%.
What do graduates of California Institute of the Arts earn?
Median earnings: $28,018 six years after entry; $41,198 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
24.24% of students receive Pell grants.
What is California Institute of the Arts known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects (72 completions)
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production (45 completions)
- Acting (41 completions)
- Fine/Studio Arts, General (40 completions)
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (30 completions)
- Music Theory and Composition (27 completions)
- Dance, General (21 completions)
- Photography (19 completions)
- Creative Writing (15 completions)
- Music, General (14 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is California Institute of the Arts a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 32.34%; completion rate 66.67%; median earnings $41,198 at 10 years; net price $46,080. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$58,996
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at California Institute of the Arts was $58,996.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$46,080
2024 Value
In 2024 California Institute of the Arts had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $46,080.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$184,320 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$46,080 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$235,984 4-Year Tuition
$14,134 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,062 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$74,192 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$296,768 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for California Institute of the Arts.
Financial Aid by Income Level
24.24% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
36.24% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
32.34% Acceptance Rate
2,023 Total Applicants
525 Students Admitted
177 First-Time Students Enrolled
33.71% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution is selective, accepting about half of all applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 32.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
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
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for California Institute of the Arts.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$41,198 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
60.68% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
123.51% Return on Investment
6.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for California Institute of the Arts.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 24 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects: 72 completions
2. Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 45 completions
3. Acting: 41 completions
4. Fine/Studio Arts, General: 40 completions
5. Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology: 30 completions
6. Music Theory and Composition: 27 completions
7. Dance, General: 21 completions
8. Photography: 19 completions
9. Creative Writing: 15 completions
Most popular programs at California Institute of the Arts.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for California Institute of the Arts graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for California Institute of the Arts from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 44.7%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,095
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $34,675
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
California Institute of the Arts is a private non-profit institution located in Valencia, CA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects, Cinematography and Film/Video Production, Acting. Enrollment is approximately 860 students. Student body composition includes White (32.1%), Non-Resident Alien (25.7%), Hispanic or Latino (17.2%). It is selective, with an admission rate of 32.34%. The 150%-time completion rate is 66.67%. Approximately 24.24% of students receive Pell Grants. About 15.7% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Small Programs
Location
Valencia, CA 91355-2397
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
California Institute of the Arts provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
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.
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.
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.
Is California Institute of the Arts an HBCU?
No. California Institute of the Arts is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is California Institute of the Arts a tribal college?
No. California Institute of the Arts is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is California Institute of the Arts a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, California Institute of the Arts does not meet that proxy (reported share 17.2%).
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
- California college costs
- California colleges by ROI
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in California
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.