California Institute of the Arts

Overview

California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is a private institution located in Valencia, California, approximately 30 miles north of downtown Los Angeles. Founded in 1961 through the merger of the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music and the Chouinard Art Institute, CalArts is dedicated to the advancement of the visual and performing arts. The institution is recognized for its rigorous and distinctly multidisciplinary approach to arts education, offering a variety of bachelor's and master's degree programs across six schools: Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater. CalArts maintains a selective admissions process, seeking candidates who showcase exceptional artistic talent and potential. The campus architecture is marked by its postmodern design, housing on-campus residences that provide a collaborative living and learning environment for its students. CalArts is not traditionally known for athletics, instead placing a strong emphasis on developing artists who seek to push the boundaries of creative expression in their respective fields.

In the most recent statistical year 2,120 prospective students applied, and 525 were granted admission.  Of those admitted 189 enrolled in the school.  1,402 students are enrolled on a full time basis, and 38 attend part time. In-state tuition for 2022/2023, excluding room and board, is $54,440 plus fees of $616.