California College of the Arts

1111 Eighth Street, San Francisco, California

Background Image: California College of the Arts interior gallery

Located at the center of innovation and technology in the San Francisco Bay Area, California College of the Arts is home to a world-renowned faculty of practicing artists and entrepreneurs, and a diverse community of makers that are boldly reimagining the world. Offering 22 undergraduate and 12 graduate programs in fine arts, architecture, design, and writing, CCA’s creative culture is built around the ideals of interdisciplinary collaboration, sustainability, and community engagement.

DEGREES OFFERED: BFA, BA, B. Arch, MFA, MA, M. Arch, MBA, MAAD, MDes
ACCREDITATION: NAAB, NASAD, WASC

Hover over dots to see degrees offered and online availability.

MAJORS OFFERED:

AnimationBachelors Degree
ArchitectureBachelors Degree Masters Degree
CeramicsBachelors Degree
ComicsBachelors Degree Masters (low-residency) Masters Degree
Curatorial PracticeMasters Degree
Design Strategy (MBA)Masters (low-residency) Masters Degree
DesignMasters Degree
Fashion DesignBachelors Degree
FilmBachelors Degree Masters Degree
Fine ArtsMasters Degree
FurnitureBachelors Degree
Game ArtsBachelors Degree
GlassBachelors Degree
Graphic DesignBachelors Degree
History of Art and Visual CultureBachelors Degree

 

 

IllustrationBachelors Degree
Individualized MajorBachelors Degree
Industrial DesignBachelors Degree
Interaction DesignBachelors Degree Masters Degree
Interior DesignBachelors Degree
Jewelry/Metal ArtsBachelors Degree
Painting/DrawingBachelors Degree
PhotographyBachelors Degree
PrintmediaBachelors Degree
SculptureBachelors Degree
TextilesBachelors Degree
Visual and Critical StudiesMasters Degree
Writing and LiteratureBachelors Degree
WritingMasters Degree

MINORS OFFERED:

Computational PracticesBachelors degree
Ecological PracticesBachelors degree
History of Art and Visual CultureBachelors degree

 

Social Practice and Community EngagementBachelors degree
Writing and LiteratureBachelors degree

LEGEND

Certificate
Associates Degree
Bachelor's Degree

Postbaccalaureate Certificate
Low-Residency Masters
Masters Degree


Fully Online
Partially Online
Optional Online

FOUNDATION PROGRAM
The First Year Program builds skills and community for future success. In the first year at California College of the Arts, students explore different approaches to creative practices, while building the necessary skills in preparation for their majors. The First Year Program's Core Studio courses emphasize craft, work ethic, visual literacy, critical exploration of ideas, and effective communication. The First Year Program is committed to constructive critique, guided research, presentation of ideas, and the highlighted importance of collaboration. Through a combination of studios and academic courses, the program orients students to the rigor of building a creative practice while using foundation skills that apply to all programs at the college. Working closely with the Advising, Student Affairs, and Residential Life offices, the First Year Program provides structure and guidance to help students acclimate to college life at CCA.


This program is Residential.

UNDERGRADUATE COST OF ATTENDANCE 2023-2024
FULL-TIME  
TUITION $ 57,096
MANDATORY FEES 850
BOOKS & SUPPLIES 1,500
ON-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD 21,165
OFF-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD 21,408
OTHER 3,798
FINANCIAL AID 2021-2022 FULL-TIME FRESHMEN *
AID CATEGORY AVG PER RECIPIENT 1st YR RECIPIENTS
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS3 $25,231 100%
FEDERAL/NATIONAL GRANTS 5,495 29%
STATE & LOCAL GRANTS 4,361 16%
FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS 5,021 32%

AVERAGE AMOUNT RECEIVED PER RECIPIENT: $30,976
100% OF FULL-TIME FRESHMEN RECEIVED AID

* Most recent financial aid data available

ACCEPTANCE RATE: 76%

Acceptance Rate = The percentage of students admitted out of applications received in a given year.

 
ENROLLMENT: FALL 2022

UNDERGRADUATE FTE1 = 1,108

UNDERGRADUATE

FULL-TIME 1,085
PART-TIME 59

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
APPLICATION: Required
ONLINE APPLICATION: Required
APPLICATION FEES: $60 (approximate)
HOME EXAM: Not Required
INTERVIEW: N/A
ESSAY: Required
SAT / ACT: Not Required
PORTFOLIO: Required
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Required (2)
IELTS: Required if English is a second language
Minimum score 7
TOEFL: Required if English is a second language
Minimum score 79

TRANSCRIPTS

HIGH SCHOOL: Required
COLLEGE: Required, if transferring
FACULTY: 2022-2023

FACULTY FTE1 = 180

FULL-TIME 90
PART-TIME 298
 

STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: FALL 2022
8.0 TO 1
FTE STUDENTS PER FTE FACULTY1

RETENTION

FRESHMAN RETENTION

FALL 2020 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2021
79%
 
FALL 2021 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2022
80%
GRADUATION

SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE

FALL 2015 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
76%
 
FALL 2016 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
74%

UNDERGRADUATE ETHNICITY

FALL 2022

UNDERGRADUATE GENDER DISTRIBUTION

FALL 2022

NEW STUDENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION2

FALL 2022
OTHER PROGRAMS

Continuing Extension (weekend & evening)
Leading by Design Fellows Program (executive education)
Pre-College Program (10th-12th grade)
Summer Atelier (9th grade)
Young Artist Studio Program (6th-8th grade)
Summer School
Summer Study Abroad

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Study Abroad
Exchange Programs
Internships
Sponsored Studios
Career Services office
Community Student Fellows
Center for Art and Public Life
IMPACT Social Entrepreneurship Awards
AICAD Exchange Program
CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts
New Materials Resource Center
Minors in Writing & Literature; Visual Studies

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc. NOTE 2: Geographic distribution is reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. NOTE 3: Includes all institutional scholarships and grants, but does not include College Work Study or third party awards.