CalArts vs. Thomas College

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Thomas College in Waterville, ME on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas College is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (1,635 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); Thomas College is in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Thomas College 20:1.

CalArts vs. Thomas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or Thomas College? 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 Thomas College than CalArts ($19,126 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 0.3% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($14,090 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 85.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $27,172 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 85.4% higher at CalArts than at Thomas College (about $27,172 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Thomas College than at California Institute of the Arts (98% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Thomas College students is 31.7% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($28,212 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. Thomas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or Thomas College? 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 Thomas College and CalArts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Thomas College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 16.1% at Thomas College.

CalArts vs. Thomas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and Thomas College? 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 Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Thomas College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($279 vs. $294).
• More Thomas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 64%)

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.