CalArts vs. UC Merced

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Merced is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (9,110 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); University of California Merced is in Merced, CA (Rural Fringe setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of California Merced is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; University of California Merced 20:1.

CalArts vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts or UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced than CalArts ($13,690 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 34.1% lower than at University of California Merced ($14,134 vs. $21,445).
• California Institute of the Arts is 277.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC Merced (about $43,373 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $15,623.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18.4% higher at CalArts than at University of California Merced (about $9,173 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $49,823.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at University of California Merced (95% vs. 89%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 27.4% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($27,292 vs. $21,416).

CalArts vs. UC Merced Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and CalArts.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 960/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of California Merced 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; UC Merced - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; UC Merced Nov 30, 2026.
• UC Merced has a higher acceptance rate (90.5%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 7.2% at UC Merced.

CalArts vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts and UC Merced? 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 University of California Merced's (58%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Merced graduates have a $8,601 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($19,899 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, UC Merced graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($205 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC Merced students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.