Your chances of getting into California College of the Arts
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at California College of the Arts is 73.4%. Its admission rate is the 57th lowest in California.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into California College of the Arts and can you get accepted?
California College of the Arts is a moderately competitive school to get into. You have a strong chance of acceptance if you meet the criteria. Last year, 2,687 out of the 3,661 who applied were admitted.
California College of the Arts typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.34. 7% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Can you get into California College of the Arts?
73% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to California College of the Arts you should:
- Have a high school GPA of 3.34 or better
- Earn B+ grades in high school
California College of the Arts GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into California College of the Arts?
GPA Requirements
The GPA requirements for getting into California College of the Arts are to have around a 3.34 high school GPA. You are required to have above average high school grades.
If your high school GPA meets these requirements, there is a good chance you will be accepted as California College of the Arts accepts 73% of students who apply.
Average GPA
The average unweighted GPA at California College of the Arts is 3.34 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school. The school ranks #66 in California for highest average GPA.
Importance of GPA
Since California College of the Arts is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.3 GPA range.
GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2024
California College of the Arts SAT Scores
Testing Requirements
Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required by California College of the Arts. The school has a test blind policy.
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 25th Percentile | N/A |
| SAT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Average SAT Score | N/A |
California College of the Arts ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 25th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 25th Percentile | N/A |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| Reading 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Math 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Composite 75th Percentile | N/A |
| Average ACT Score | N/A |
Applying
Admission Statistics
Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 2,644 | 990 | 3,661 |
| Accepted | 2,005 | 662 | 2,687 |
| Acceptance Rate | 76% | 67% | 73% |
| Enrolled | 132 | 54 | 186 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 7% | 8% | 7% |
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to California College of the Arts is $70.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to California College of the Arts and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) |
| High School GPA | Required to be considered for admission |
| High School Class Rank | Not considered for admission, even if submitted |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted |
| Recommendations | Required to be considered for admission |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Required to be considered for admission |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to California College of the Arts often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=110370 IPEDS survey data for California College of the Arts.
Last updated February 24, 2025