Cal State LA vs. CalArts

Comparable Facts

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

California State University Los Angeles is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (23,163 students vs. 1,277 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); California Institute of the Arts is in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• California State University Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. California Institute of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Los Angeles 21:1; California Institute of the Arts 7:1.

Cal State LA vs. CalArts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cal State LA or CalArts? 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 California State University Los Angeles than CalArts ($4,460 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 28.2% lower than at California State University Los Angeles ($14,134 vs. $19,696).
• California Institute of the Arts is 724% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cal State LA (about $51,836 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $7,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 198.6% higher at CalArts than at California State University Los Angeles (about $39,236 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $19,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at California State University Los Angeles (95% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 54.9% larger than aid received by California State University Los Angeles students ($21,416 vs. $13,824).

Cal State LA vs. CalArts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Cal State LA or CalArts? 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 CalArts and Cal State LA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 870/1060.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: California State University Los Angeles 15/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cal State LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); CalArts - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: Cal State LA Jan 19, 2027; CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Cal State LA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.4% at Cal State LA vs. 27.9% at CalArts.

Cal State LA vs. CalArts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cal State LA and CalArts? 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 California State University Los Angeles's (36%).
• Graduates from California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Cal State LA graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $46,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, California State University Los Angeles graduates have a $15,580 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($12,920 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Cal State LA graduates have an estimated $161 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($133 vs. $294).
• More CalArts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cal State LA students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 57%)

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.