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San Francisco , CA
California College of the Arts (CCA) is a private art and design college located in San Francisco and Oakland, California. With a history dating back more than 115 years, CCA has established itself as one of the leading art institutions in the United States. The college offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as fine arts, design, architecture, writing, and more. CCA prides itself on fostering innovation, creativity, and social responsibility among its students, while providing them with the tools, knowledge, and skills necessary for successful careers in the arts.
One of the key distinguishing factors of California College of the Arts is its multidisciplinary approach to education. The curriculum integrates various fields of study, enabling students to explore and combine diverse artistic practices. This encourages collaboration, critical thinking, and experimentation, allowing students to develop their artistic voice and push the boundaries of traditional art and design. CCA also emphasizes sustainability and social justice in its programs, reflecting the college's commitment to addressing current global challenges through creative solutions.
In addition to its academic programs, California College of the Arts offers numerous opportunities for students to engage with the thriving art communities in San Francisco and Oakland. The college has strong connections with local galleries, museums, and design studios, providing students with access to internships, exhibitions, and other professional experiences. CCA's vibrant campus and innovative facilities further enhance the learning environment, providing students with state-of-the-art equipment, studios, and workshops to bring their artistic visions to life. Overall, California College of the Arts offers a rich and dynamic learning experience for aspiring artists and designers seeking to make a positive impact on the world through their creative pursuits.
California College of the Arts is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in San Francisco, CA and set in an urban environment. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 91%. The freshman retention rate at California College of the Arts is 87% and the six-year graduation rate is 61%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 19. Read more about what California College of the Arts has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,004
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$59,376
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
61%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will greatly improve. Check out some relevant information about admission policy and requirements at California College of the Arts.
In 2025, the school accepted 2,160 new students.
Deadlines
The deadline for submitting applications to California College of the Arts is August 19.
Retention Rate
What is the freshman retention rate? The freshman retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who entered the institution as freshmen in the previous academic year and returned for the fall term of the current academic year. This piece of data is important as it can reveal to the prospective students how many freshmen liked the school enough to return to it as sophomores.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for California College of the Arts was 87%, which is considered an above-average retention rate and is indicative of the quality of educational experience at this school.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year completion rate at this institution is 61%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the right fit for you is not an easy task. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
The total number of students enrolled at California College of the Arts in 2025 was 1,308.
That year, the institution had 25% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 1,004 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 316 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 75.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 399 male and 750 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at California College of the Arts.
This school had 155 Asian students and 40 Afro-American students in 2025. 163 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 68 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 3 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 37 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
One of the most crucial things to take into account when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at California College of the Arts that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at California College of the Arts? Here is what you need to know.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $59,376 for all full-time domestic students. California College of the Arts is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $850.
Books and Supplies
Another important expense to take into consideration is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,500.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?
In 2025, room and board cost at California College of the Arts amounted to $22,099 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $15,472 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $15,876.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 59,376 |
| Room and Board | $ 22,099 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,500 |
| Total Expense | $ 82,975 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at California College of the Arts, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 92 freshmen received some sort of financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 474 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $1,576,984, and state $983,454. The students of California College of the Arts received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $14,070,354, and external in the amount of $723,526.
$16,030
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 449 students overall (including freshmen) at California College of the Arts in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 91 full-time freshman. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $8,281,829. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $23,190 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
In 2025, this ratio at California College of the Arts was 9:1. That means that there were 9 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 330 teachers at this school. This number included 162 men and 168 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at California College of the Arts.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at California College of the Arts: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Check out some information about students' life at California College of the Arts.
It has a campus size of 11 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 12. The student organization that gathers the largest number of students is Beyond Barriers: Disability Pride & Support Group, followed by 24 Frames Animation Club and Hang Out With You Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are The Band of Musicians and Black Brilliance.
You have a talent for media and communication? California College of the Arts publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
California College of the Arts provides a number of services vital for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are emergency phone and alarm devices available around the clock. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
All in all, campus life at California College of the Arts is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at California College of the Arts.
Career Counselling
There are a job bank and job fairs. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
Job Placement
Having an understanding of the anticipated earnings after completing your education can be important in evaluating if a certain institution is compatible with your professional goals.
Students who find employment within six months of graduating can expect an average base annual starting salary of 62,480 USD.
$62,480
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for California College of the Arts is 59,376 USD, based on the most recent data.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for California College of the Arts is 91%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for California College of the Arts is 87%.
Contact Information
California College of the Arts
145 Hooper Street
San Francisco , CA
94107
415 703-9500
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.