California Institute of the Arts is a prestigious international private institution specialized in visual and performing arts in Valencia, California. California Institute of Arts was established in 1961 founded by Walt and his brother Roy. The college was formed by the merger of Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music. It offers more than 70 comprehensive degree programs in the visual, performing, media, and literary arts. Candidates must take exams to study in USA which are IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT and many more. The acceptance rate for 2021 was 29%. It holds the rank #28 in 2022-23 in the best college of Regional Universities West. The students taking admission to the graduate, undergraduate, or doctoral programs has to pay $28,037 per semester as tuition fees. The average salary after attending the undergraduate can be $41,120.
Why Choose California Institute of the Arts
Cal Arts has been ranked as America's top college in the arts by Newsweek/The Daily Beast. It has given many professional artists since the 1970s. It is one of the top universities in USA for Arts.
- California Institute of the Arts offers rigorous graduate and undergraduate degree programs through six schools-Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theatre.
- California Institute of Arts is a multidisciplinary community of artists.
- It is one of the cheapest universities in USA for arts.
- The institution maintains education quality by providing openness, experimentation, critical engagement, and creative freedom.
- CalArts offers many interesting classes that would never be offered at a conventional school and plenty of practical experience.
- The seniors of the institution say that the atmosphere of CalArts is good for making art because the students are surrounded by so many talented people.
California Institute of the Arts Rankings
California Institute of Arts is a renowned international institute that has made innumerable professional artists. Students can check the ranking to prepare the colleges for admission to US Universties. The ranking of this institute is-
|
U.S. News and World Report |
In the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges in Regional Universities West, it ranks #28. |
|
Times Higher Education |
It ranks #197 in 2022 |
|
QS WUR |
It is ranked #51-100 in QS WUR Ranking By Subject 2023. |
|
QS |
It ranks #9 in the UK’s Royal College of Arts |
California Institute of the Arts Acceptance Rate
The admission process is very selective as they take admission only 23 students out of 100 every year.The California Institute of the Arts acceptance rate is 27%. The enrollment data that the institute has mentioned is-
- CalArts had an enrollment of 1471 students in Fall 2016.
The accepted scores of CalArts are-
- CalArts does not require SAT/ACT scores as part of the application process.
- GPA Score-Undergraduate Students need a 2.0 GPA for all coursework completed at CalArts based on equivalency. Graduate and Doctoral Students need a 3.0 GPA for all coursework completed at CalArts based on equivalency (Satisfactory Academic Progress and Financial Aid Eligibility, n.d).
California Institute of the Arts Course Fees
California Institute of the Arts degrees are offered in several undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The course fees are a part of the cost of studying in USA for international students. The fees details are:
|
Courses |
Per Semester |
Full Year |
|
Full-Time Undergraduate (BFA & Certificate), Graduate (MFA & Advanced Certificate), and Doctoral (DMA) programs |
$28,037 |
$56,074 |
|
Full-Time MA Aesthetics and Politics program (1st year only) |
$22,449 |
$44,898 |
|
Low-Residency MA Aesthetics and Politics program (2nd year only) |
$11,224 |
$22,449 |
Along with that, the annual fees of student activity & technology fees, meal fees, on-campus housing fees, and health-insurance fees will be added.
California Institute of the Arts Application Deadline
The institute takes admission in fall, spring, and summer sessions. The application deadline was January 5th, 2023. However, some courses are still taking California Institute of the Arts admissions. Candidates can also check the application deadlines for top universities in USA. The registrations opening dates for all sessions are
|
Sessions |
Registration Date starts |
|
Fall (2023) |
August 8 |
|
Winter & Spring (2024) |
December 9 |
|
Summer |
March 25 – April 26 |
California Institute of Arts Application Process
To complete the California Institute of the Arts admissions process the student needs to apply on the official website i.e. apply.calarts.edu/apply. The application usually happens in three intakes, Fall, Winter and Summer Intake for US universities. Their step-by-step guide can help the applicant to complete the application.
Application fees:-
- $70(5783.09INR) for each domestic application
- $85(7022.32INR) for each international application
California Institute of Arts Admission Requirements
The California Institute of the Arts requirements are the application fees. There are multiple universities in USA without application fees which the students can check. The California Institute of the Arts requirements regarding admission are-
- Upload your portfolio and/or plan your audition
- Upload unofficial transcripts showing all academic work
- Request at least two letters of recommendation be sent to CalArts
- If you are a transfer student, you should review our Transfer Applicant Guidelines
- If you are an international applicant, you should review our International Applicant Guidelines.
UG requirements:-
|
SAT |
Not required |
|
ACT |
Not required |
Graduate courses:-
California Institute of Arts ELP Score Requirement
English Language Proficiency (ELP) is required for the international candidate. CalArts has mentioned that applications from international students with a native language other than English may not be reviewed if they do not include a TOEFL, IELTS, PTE, or DET score.
Minimum scores for undergraduate admission (BFA):
Minimum scores for graduate admission (MA, MFA, DMA):
|
Exam Name |
Minimum Score Required |
|
IELTS |
7 |
|
TOEFL ibt |
100 |
|
63 |
|
|
120 |
California Institute of the Arts Cost of Living
California Institute of the Arts Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of students’ educational expenses for the period of enrollment, as determined by the school. This includes tuition fees, cost of living, food, personal expenses, travel, books etc. The undergraduates Cost of Living in USA:-
|
Billable Costs |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Tuition |
$28,037 |
$28,037 |
$56,074 |
|
Fees |
$325 |
$325 |
$650 |
|
Housing |
$3,698 |
$3,698 |
$7,396 |
|
Food |
$2,428 |
$2,996 |
$5,424 |
|
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total |
$34,488 |
$35,056 |
$69,544 |
|
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Books/Supplies |
$469 |
$469 |
$938 |
|
Transportation |
$550 |
$550 |
$1,100 |
|
Personal Expenses |
$1,435 |
$1,436 |
$2,871 |
|
Medical |
$921 |
$1,834 |
$2,755 |
|
Loan Fees |
$50 |
$50 |
$100 |
|
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total |
$3,425 |
$4,339 |
$7,764 |
|
Cost of Attendance Total |
$37,913 |
$39,395 |
$77,308 |
Graduates Cost of Attendance
|
Billable (Direct) Costs |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Tuition |
$28,037 |
$28,037 |
$56,074 |
|
Fees |
$325 |
$325 |
$650 |
|
Housing |
$4,728 |
$4,728 |
$9,456 |
|
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total |
$33,090 |
$33,090 |
$66,180 |
|
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Food |
$2,250 |
$2,250 |
$4,500 |
|
Books/Supplies |
$469 |
$469 |
$938 |
|
Transportation |
$550 |
$550 |
$1,100 |
|
Personal Expenses |
$1,435 |
$1,436 |
$2,871 |
|
Medical |
$921 |
$1,834 |
$2,755 |
|
Loan Fees |
$50 |
$50 |
$100 |
|
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total |
$5,675 |
$6,589 |
$12,264 |
|
Cost of Attendance Total |
$38,765 |
$39,679 |
$78,444 |
MA Aesthetics & Politics On-Campus Cost of Attendance for 1st year
|
Billable (Direct) Costs |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Tuition |
$22,449 |
$22,449 |
$44,898 |
|
Fees |
$325 |
$325 |
$650 |
|
Housing |
$4,728 |
$4,728 |
$9,456 |
|
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total |
$27,502 |
$27,502 |
$55,004 |
|
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Food |
$2,250 |
$2,250 |
$4,500 |
|
Books/Supplies |
$469 |
$469 |
$938 |
|
Transportation |
$550 |
$550 |
$1,100 |
|
Personal Expenses |
$1,435 |
$1,436 |
$2,871 |
|
Medical |
$921 |
$1,834 |
$2,755 |
|
Loan Fees |
$50 |
$50 |
$100 |
|
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total |
$5,675 |
$6,589 |
$12,264 |
|
Cost of Attendance Total |
$33,177 |
$34,091 |
$67,268 |
MA Aesthetics & Politics On-Campus Cost of Attendance for 2nd year
|
Billable (Direct) Costs |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Tuition |
$11,224 |
$11,224 |
$22,449 |
|
Fees |
$325 |
$325 |
$650 |
|
Housing |
$4,728 |
$4,728 |
$9,456 |
|
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total |
$16,277 |
$16,277 |
$32,555 |
|
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses |
Fall |
Spring |
Total |
|
Food |
$2,250 |
$2,250 |
$4,500 |
|
Books/Supplies |
$469 |
$469 |
$938 |
|
Transportation |
$550 |
$550 |
$1,100 |
|
Personal Expenses |
$1,435 |
$1,436 |
$2,871 |
|
Medical |
$921 |
$1,834 |
$2,755 |
|
Loan Fees |
$50 |
$50 |
$100 |
|
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total |
$5,675 |
$6,589 |
$12,264 |
|
Cost of Attendance Total |
$21,952 |
$22,866 |
$44,819 |
Extracurricular Activities
The California Institute of Arts is located in one of the best student cities in USA. The campus life of CalArts provides to access the facility of clubs and organizations. Some examples are-
- CalArts Disability Support
- Mini Nature Reserve Student Nursery
- Calarts Collage Association
- Spoken Word Club
- ENC (Every Nation Campus)
- TSA (Taiwanese Student Association)
- QAC (Queer Arts Collective)
- Heart
- UKAL (United Korean American Leaders
- Nature Club
California Institute of Arts Diversity
According to the institute-“CalArts is committed to a diverse and equitable environment in the workplace, within the classrooms, studios, and beyond” (Equity & diversity {IDEA}, n.d). IDEA is a collaborative effort of CalArts to realize the commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and access.
California Institute of Arts Scholarships
CalArts provides different scholarships to help students in pursuing their dream. The CalArts Scholarships & Grants are:
|
Scholarship Name |
Scholarship Eligibility |
Scholarship Coverage |
|
Merit-Based |
All admitted students are considered for Merit Scholarships based on the admissions portfolio on FAFSA |
limited and very competitive, going only to the top 30% of the incoming class |
|
Equity Grants |
All domestic and international students may be considered for Access Grants |
vary in amounts and eligibility and are awarded at the discretion of each school |
|
Qey's(Dream) Scholarship for indigenous artists |
preference given to a member of the Hopi Tribe |
full cost of tuition for an undergraduate or graduate student from an Indigenous community or nation |
|
Beutner Family Community Arts Partnership Award |
CalArts students who participated in the Community Arts Partnership program |
Varies |
|
Feature Music Scholarship and Feature Arts Scholarship |
BFA4 in the Herb Alpert School of Music or the School of Art who self-identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) |
Varies |
|
Roy O. Disney Scholarship |
preference given to students who participated in the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) program or a similar educational outreach program for the same or similar target population that CAP currently serves |
Cost of attendance for a maximum of four years for up to four undergraduate students |
|
The Michael Eisner Scholarship Fund |
scholarship supports former participants in the Community Arts Partnership program, with priority given to students studying animation, film/video, and other forms of digital and media arts |
Varies |
California Institute of Arts Internships
CalArts provides internship courses for students to sharpen their skills. The registration deadlines for the courses are-
|
Term |
Contract Deadline |
|
Summer 2023: May 22- August 31, 2023 |
May 24, 2023 |
|
Fall 2023: September 11 – December 17, 2023 |
Wednesday, Sept 20, 2023 |
|
Winter/Spring 2024: January 8, 2024 – May 5, 2024 |
Wednesday, January 24, 2024 |
California Institute of Arts Placement
CalArts empowers artists to achieve their potential by offering workshops, information sessions, an industry speaker series, an annual Career and Opportunity Festival, and a robust internship program. Career + Opportunities Fest is The Center for Life and Work's annual trade fair for arts industry employers and creative entrepreneurs to meet with CalArts students. They can land up jobs after MS in USA from these career fairs. The 2024 Career + Opportunities Fest will occur on March 7, 2024. In 2023 some famous employers attended the fest and those are-
- Tic Toc Games
- Tractor Vision
- Universal Studios Hollywood Entertainment Dept. Win1
- WTBR TV etc.
After completing graduation from this institute and gaining good experience one can earn up to $41,120 (3397149.36 INR) as per the analysis. CalArts also takes qualified bright students as the faculty of their institute.
California Institute of the Arts Notable Alumni
A few California Institute of the Arts Notable alumni are-
- Anna Biller (MFA 93), independent filmmaker (Viva, The Love Witch
- Rodney Evans (MFA 96), writer-director (The Happy Sad, Brother to Brother
- Fabian Euresti (MFA 10), documentary filmmaker (Everybody’s Nuts)
- Nelson Boles (BFA 12), animation writer-producer (Clarence)
- Jasmin Lai (12), illustrator (Cartoon Network, Google, Pearson Education
California Institute of Arts vs School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs Bard College, New York vs Maryland Institute College of Art, Maryland
|
Particulars |
California Institute of Arts |
School of the Art Institute of Chicago |
Bard College, New York |
Maryland Institute College of Art, Maryland |
|
Ranking |
#5 in best fine arts programs by U.S. News & World Report |
#2 in best fine arts programs by U.S. News & World Report |
#10 in best fine arts programs by U.S. News & World Report |
#8 in best fine arts programs by U.S. News & World Report |
|
Programs |
Art, Film/Video, Music, Dance, Theatre |
Animation, Graphic Design, Photography, Art therapy and Counselling |
Painting, Sculpture; Film and Video |
Painting, Sculpture, Photographic and Electronic Media |
|
Acceptance Rate |
Not given |
57% approximately |
60% |
86% |
|
Accepted Exam Score |
IELTS-6.5-7 TOEFL-80-100 DET-100-120 |
SAT- 1120-1360 ACT- not given TOEFL-min 96 GPA-3.0 |
SAT- 1296-1468 ACT- 28-33 GPA-N/A TOEFL, IELTS, and DET scores are not clearly stated |
SAT-N/A ACT-N/A GPA-N/A |
|
Tuition Cost |
$54,440(4497587.82INR) |
$54,530(4505023.22INR) |
$60,270(4979236.19INR) |
$53,815(4445953.13INR) |
|
Placement (Average Package) |
$41,120(3397149.36INR) |
$45,500(3759005.25INR) |
$46,900(3874666.95INR) |
$46,400(3833359.20INR) |
California Institute of Arts is a prestigious organization that provides many opportunities for students' success. Indeed, getting admission to this university is not so easy, but if you dream to achieve a successful career then this university can support you in every way. The academic team enhances the students’ knowledge and helps them to cater to their dream.
FAQs
Ques. What is the institution code of CalArts?
Ans. The institution code is 4049.
Ques. What is the Federal School Code of CalArts?
Ans. The Federal School Code of CalArts is 001132.
Ques. How long will it take to complete my degree?
Ans. BFA degrees typically take four years to complete, while MFA/MA programs vary from two to three years. The Performer-Composer DMA Program is three years.
Ques. Does CalArts offer part-time study?
Ans. No, all the courses are full-time.
Ques. How can I apply for CalArts scholarships?
Ans. You have to review the financial aid application information on the Financial Aid page.
Ques. Are international students eligible for financial aid?
Ans. International students are eligible for institutional funds (scholarships and grants), but these funds are limited and awarding is very competitive.
Ques. When will I get my portfolio back?
Ans. Only portfolios submitted with a self-addressed, pre-paid package will be mailed back to students.
Ques. Can I apply to more than one program?
Ans. Yes, You will need to submit a separate application in addition to the required materials and an application fee for each program you would like to apply to.
Ques. What is the inauguration?
Ans. An inauguration is a ceremonial event recognizing the installation of a new president.
Ques. Can I have more than one on-campus job?
Ans. Students are only allowed to work no more than three on-campus jobs a semester.
