California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · offers Graduate degrees
91%Acceptance rate
$53,909Average net price / year
61%Graduation rate
$49,414Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$27,000Median debt at graduation
990Undergraduates
Cost
- In-state tuition & fees
- $60,226
- Total cost of attendance
- $79,776
- Room & board
- $22,099
- Books & supplies
- $1,500
- Average net price
- $53,909
Net price by family income
- $0–30k
- $61,407
- $30–48k
- $43,261
- $48–75k
- $45,378
- $75–110k
- $46,060
- $110k+
- $56,394
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 91.1%
Outcomes
- Graduation rate
- 61%
- First-year retention
- 87%
- Median earnings (6 yrs)
- $38,308
- Median earnings (10 yrs)
- $49,414
- Median debt (graduates)
- $27,000
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0.0%
- Students with Pell grants
- 25%
- Students with federal loans
- 48%
Programs: what graduates earn
10 of 21 programs have published earnings or debt data. Earnings are median salaries of graduates one year after completing the program (or the latest available year).
Bachelor's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Human Computer Interaction | 29 | $101,801 | $27,125 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 84 | $28,673 | $27,000 |
| Graphic Communications | 46 | $26,481 | $26,899 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 45 | $17,690 | $27,000 |
| Architecture | — | $66,934 | — |
Master's degree
| Program | Graduates | Earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 10 | $94,345 | $81,257 |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | 18 | $76,381 | $67,940 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 30 | $24,495 | $51,870 |
| Architecture | — | $61,388 | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 12 | $37,442 | — |
Students
- Undergraduates
- 990
- Graduate students
- 371
- Part-time
- 3%
- Women / men
- 67% / 33%
- White
- 21%
- Hispanic
- 16%
- Black
- 4%
- Asian
- 16%
- International
- 32%
Faculty & school
- Student–faculty ratio
- 8:1
- Avg faculty salary
- $88,065 / year
- Full-time faculty
- 22%
- Accreditor
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
- Website
- www.cca.edu
- Also known as
- NA
Most popular fields
- Architecture – 11% of degrees
- Communications Technologies – 23% of degrees
- Computer & Information Sciences – 7% of degrees
- English – 0% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary Studies – 10% of degrees
- Precision Production – 1% of degrees
Frequently asked questions
What is the acceptance rate at California College of the Arts?
91.1% of applicants were admitted.
How much does California College of the Arts cost?
The average net price after grants is $53,909 per year; in-state tuition and fees are $60,226 and the full cost of attendance is $79,776.
How much do California College of the Arts graduates earn?
Students who enrolled earn a median of $49,414 ten years later. See the program table above for salaries by major.
What is the graduation rate?
61% of first-time, full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.
Other colleges in San Francisco
| College | Net price | Acceptance | Graduation | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco State University San Francisco, CA · Public · 18,639 students |
$12,278 | 96% | 50% | $68,077 |
| City College of San Francisco San Francisco, CA · Public · 17,348 students |
$6,906 | — | 40% | $45,805 |
| University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 5,287 students |
$41,431 | 62% | 70% | $89,812 |
| Academy of Art University San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 3,587 students |
$40,613 | — | 34% | $39,008 |
| Minerva University San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 637 students |
— | 3% | — | — |
| Golden Gate University San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 259 students |
— | — | — | $87,434 |
| San Francisco Conservatory of Music San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 226 students |
$42,607 | 55% | 74% | — |
| Bay Area Medical Academy San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 209 students |
$27,042 | — | 52% | — |
| EDvance College San Francisco, CA · Private nonprofit · 201 students |
— | 100% | — | — |
| San Francisco Institute of Esthetics & Cosmetology Inc San Francisco, CA · Private for-profit · 167 students |
$18,333 | — | 87% | $32,926 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, June 2026 release.