CalArts vs. Los Angeles College of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Los Angeles College of Music in Pasadena, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Los Angeles College of Music based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 261 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Los Angeles College of Music is in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Los Angeles College of Music is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Los Angeles College of Music 3:1.

CalArts vs. Los Angeles College of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Los Angeles College of Music? 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 Los Angeles College of Music than CalArts ($44,586 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 36% lower than at Los Angeles College of Music ($14,134 vs. $22,086).
• California Institute of the Arts is 93.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Los Angeles College of Music (about $28,456 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $30,540.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.2% higher at CalArts than at Los Angeles College of Music (about $28,456 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $30,540.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Los Angeles College of Music (95% vs. 72%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 287.1% larger than aid received by Los Angeles College of Music students ($21,416 vs. $5,532).

CalArts vs. Los Angeles College of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Los Angeles College of Music? 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 Los Angeles College of Music and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Los Angeles College of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Los Angeles College of Music has a higher acceptance rate (87.7%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 18.1% at Los Angeles College of Music.

CalArts vs. Los Angeles College of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Los Angeles College of Music? 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).

• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Los Angeles College of Music students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 49%)

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.