UCLA vs. CalArts

Comparable Facts

Compare University of California 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.

University of California Los Angeles is larger than CalArts based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 1,277 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); California Institute of the Arts is in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• University of California 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: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; California Institute of the Arts 7:1.

UCLA vs. CalArts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UCLA 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 University of California Los Angeles than CalArts ($14,512 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California Institute of the Arts are 23.1% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($14,134 vs. $18,369).
• California Institute of the Arts is 288.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $43,793 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at CalArts than at University of California Los Angeles (about $9,593 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $49,403.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at University of California Los Angeles (95% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Los Angeles students is 19.7% larger than aid received by California Institute of the Arts students ($25,627 vs. $21,416).

UCLA vs. CalArts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UCLA 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 UCLA.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); CalArts - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).
• Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• CalArts has a higher acceptance rate (32.3%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 27.9% at CalArts.

UCLA vs. CalArts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UCLA 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).

• University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than California Institute of the Arts's (65%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than CalArts graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $50,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $12,200 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($16,300 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $126 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($168 vs. $294).
• More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (78% 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.