CalArts vs. FIDM LA

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than FIDM LA based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 135:1.

CalArts vs. FIDM LA Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising than CalArts ($39,494 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 36% lower than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising ($14,134 vs. $22,086).
• California Institute of the Arts is 68.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than FIDM LA (about $23,996 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $35,000.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.6% higher at CalArts than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (about $23,996 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $35,000.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (95% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 54.8% larger than aid received by FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students ($21,416 vs. $13,834).

CalArts vs. FIDM LA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or FIDM LA? 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 FIDM LA and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); FIDM LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.

CalArts vs. FIDM LA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and FIDM LA? 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).

• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than California Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than FIDM LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduates have a $15,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($13,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, FIDM LA graduates have an estimated $160 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($134 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FIDM LA students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 61%)

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.