CalArts vs. Warren Wilson

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, CA with Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

California Institute of the Arts is larger than Warren Wilson based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 791 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Warren Wilson College is in Swannanoa, NC (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Warren Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California Institute of the Arts 7:1; Warren Wilson College 12:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Warren Wilson College are 7.7% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($13,050 vs. $14,134).
• Out-of-state tuition is 42.2% higher at CalArts than at Warren Wilson College (about $17,496 more per year; $58,996 vs. $41,500).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Warren Wilson College than at California Institute of the Arts (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Warren Wilson College students is 44.2% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($30,887 vs. $21,416).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at CalArts, test optional at Warren Wilson.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027; Warren Wilson Jul 3, 2027.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 17.9% at Warren Wilson.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Warren Wilson College graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($23,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Warren Wilson graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($237 vs. $294).
• More Warren Wilson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation (72% vs. 64%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.