CIIS vs. CalArts

Deciding between California Institute of Integral Studies and California Institute of the Arts? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

California Institute of the Arts

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • CIIS San Francisco, CA
  • CalArts Valencia, CA
  • Setting
  • CIIS Large City
  • CalArts Midsize Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • CIIS 1,874
  • CalArts 1,277
  • Type
  • CIIS Private 4 Year
  • CalArts Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • CIIS
  • CalArts
  • Religious Affiliation
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts -
  • Status
  • CIIS Non-profit
  • CalArts Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • CIIS
  • CalArts

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • CIIS $0
  • CalArts $58,996
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • CIIS $0
  • CalArts $58,996
  • Room & Board
  • CIIS $0
  • CalArts $14,134
  • Average Net Price
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts $56,239
  • Average Grant Aid
  • CIIS $0
  • CalArts $21,416
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • CIIS 0%
  • CalArts 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts 2,004
  • Admitted
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts 648
  • Acceptance Rate
  • CIIS
  • CalArts 32.3%
  • Enrolled
  • CIIS
  • CalArts 27.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • CIIS
  • CalArts
  • Typical ACT score
  • CIIS
  • CalArts
  • Average High School GPA
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts -
  • Admissions Standards
  • CIIS Unavailable
  • CalArts Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • CIIS
  • CalArts High
  • ACT Range
  • CIIS
  • CalArts
  • SAT Range
  • CIIS
  • CalArts
  • Submit Test Scores
  • CIIS Not reported
  • CalArts Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • CIIS
  • CalArts Jan 5, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • CIIS 15:1
  • CalArts 7:1
  • Popular Majors
  • CIIS
  • CalArts
    • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts 65%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • CIIS N/A
  • CalArts $50,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • CIIS 45%
  • CalArts 64%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • CIIS $18,750
  • CalArts $28,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • CIIS $193
  • CalArts $294

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • CIIS 19%
  • CalArts 41%
  • % Women
  • CIIS 81%
  • CalArts 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • CIIS High
  • CalArts Very High
  • HBCU
  • CIIS No
  • CalArts No
  • % White
  • CIIS 47%
  • CalArts 42%
  • % Asian
  • CIIS 5%
  • CalArts 16%
  • % Black
  • CIIS 9%
  • CalArts 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • CIIS 19%
  • CalArts 15%
  • % Native American
  • CIIS 1%
  • CalArts 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • CIIS 1%
  • CalArts 1%
  • % Two or More Races
  • CIIS 10%
  • CalArts 6%
  • % International
  • CIIS 4%
  • CalArts 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • CIIS 3%
  • CalArts 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts 36%
  • % Out-of-State
  • CIIS -
  • CalArts 39%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • CIIS No
  • CalArts Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • CIIS
  • CalArts No
  • Meal Plan
  • CIIS No
  • CalArts Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • CIIS Yes
  • CalArts No
  • Daycare Facility
  • CIIS
  • CalArts No

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, CA with California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of Integral Studies is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (1,874 students vs. 1,277 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • California Institute of Integral Studies is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); California Institute of the Arts is in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
  • California Institute of Integral Studies is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of Integral Studies 15:1; California Institute of the Arts 7:1.

CIIS vs. CalArts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CIIS or CalArts? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • In-state tuition differs between California Institute of the Arts and CIIS ($58,996.00 vs. $0.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition differs between CalArts and California Institute of Integral Studies ($58,996.00 vs. $0.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at California Institute of Integral Studies (95% vs. 0%).

CIIS vs. CalArts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CIIS or CalArts? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CalArts and CIIS.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CIIS - Not reported; CalArts - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.

CIIS vs. CalArts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CIIS and CalArts? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, California Institute of Integral Studies graduates have a $9,750 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($18,750 vs. $28,500).
  • Among borrowers, CIIS graduates have an estimated $101 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($193 vs. $294).
  • More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CIIS students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.