California Institute of the Arts vs MassArt

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) stand out as prestigious institutions offering specialized arts education. CalArts, located in Valencia, California, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 33%, while MassArt, situated in Boston, Massachusetts, maintains a slightly higher acceptance rate of 40%. Both institutions offer a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with CalArts excelling in performing and visual arts, and MassArt specializing in fine arts, design, and media arts. CalArts fosters a vibrant student community with a significant international presence, while MassArt's student body predominantly comprises domestic students. While CalArts boasts a higher graduation rate of 75%, MassArt's rate stands at 68%. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California Institute of the Arts logo

California Institute of the Arts

Massachusetts College of Art and Design logo

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Overview

Location Valencia, California Boston, Massachusetts
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 94.0% 86.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 29.0% 78.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $90
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 2,364 2,433
Total number of admissions given out 685 1,914
Admitted students who chose to enroll 203 387
Yield rate 29.6% 20.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,792
In state: $31,900

Out of state: $57,500
Average net price $53,916 $24,772
Tuition $52,850
In state: $1,030

Out of state: $26,630
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,040

Meal plan: $5,095
$14,800
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $18,119
90.0%
Average amount $7,161
Students receiving federal student loan 26.0%
Average amount $5,615
62.0%
Average amount $5,263
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $12,000
21.0%
Average amount $19,122

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 965
Men 41.6% Women 58.4%
1,778
Men 26.6% Women 73.4%
Graduate students 479
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
129
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 29.0% 5.6%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 441 919
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Mississippi Connecticut New Hampshire New York Maine

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communications Technology
  • English Language and Literature
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Architecture
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 7:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 71.9% 74.0%
Dropout rate 28.1% 25.7%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,469
  • Year 2: $32,563
  • Year 3: $36,735
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $14,239
  • Year 2: $23,456
  • Year 3: $29,527
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $29,030
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,555
  • Year 2: $22,420
  • Year 3: $28,984
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,629
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $28,791
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,992
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $22,579
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $15,918
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $21,662
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,425
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $21,635
Dance (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,773
  • Year 2: $15,182
  • Year 3: N/A
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $49,840
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,977
  • Year 2: $38,721
  • Year 3: $44,070
Design and Applied Arts (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $42,944
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,792
  • Year 2: $34,298
  • Year 3: $42,111
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,463
  • Year 2: $32,563
  • Year 3: $41,944
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,300
  • Year 2: $25,932
  • Year 3: $30,475
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,370
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: $28,314
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A

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