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 |
![]() 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% |
![]() |
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 |
|
|
|
||
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 |
|
|
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)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Master's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
Dance (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.











































































































