CalArts vs. San Francisco State

Comparable Facts

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

San Francisco State University is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (22,563 students vs. 1,277 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); San Francisco State University is in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. San Francisco State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; San Francisco State University 19:1.

CalArts vs. San Francisco State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State University than CalArts ($13,168 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 36.5% lower than at San Francisco State University ($14,134 vs. $22,266).
• California Institute of the Arts is 642.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than San Francisco State (about $51,046 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $7,950.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 187.1% higher at CalArts than at San Francisco State University (about $38,446 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $20,550.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at San Francisco State University (95% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 64.8% larger than aid received by San Francisco State University students ($21,416 vs. $12,996).

CalArts vs. San Francisco State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or San Francisco State? 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 San Francisco State and CalArts.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 930/1130.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSan Francisco State University 16/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; San Francisco State - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; San Francisco State Nov 30, 2026.
• San Francisco State has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 8.6% at San Francisco State.

CalArts vs. San Francisco State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and San Francisco State? 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).

• California Institute of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than San Francisco State University's (46%).
• Graduates from San Francisco State University earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than CalArts graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,600 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, San Francisco State University graduates have a $11,250 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($17,250 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, San Francisco State graduates have an estimated $116 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($178 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Francisco State students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)

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.