California Institute of the Arts vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand as prominent institutions in the realm of arts education, each possessing unique characteristics that cater to diverse artistic aspirations. CalArts, nestled in Valencia, California, boasts a lower acceptance rate of 33%, indicating its highly selective admissions process. In contrast, SFAI, located in the vibrant city of San Francisco, maintains a more accessible acceptance rate of 60%. While both institutions offer a comprehensive range of art programs, CalArts is renowned for its exceptional strength in film and animation, while SFAI excels in painting and drawing. CalArts' student body reflects a diverse mix of ethnicities and international backgrounds, while SFAI's student population predominantly comprises local and regional students. As you explore the comparison table below, you'll uncover further insights into these institutions' graduation rates, tuition fees, and other crucial factors, empowering you to make an informed decision that aligns with your artistic

	California Institute of the Arts	San Francisco Art Institute
Overview
Location	Valencia, California	San Francisco, California
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	94.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	29.0%	94.7%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $85
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	169
Total number of admissions given out	685	160
Admitted students who chose to enroll	203
Yield rate	29.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	N/A
Recommendation letters	Required	N/A
High school transcript	Not required	N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	N/A

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$79,792
Average net price	$53,916
Tuition	$52,850
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $7,040 Meal plan: $5,095
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	99.0% Average amount $18,119
Students receiving federal student loan	26.0% Average amount $5,615
Students taking out private loans	1.0% Average amount $12,000

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	965 Men 41.6% Women 58.4%	42 Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students	479 Men 37.2% Women 62.8%	28 Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	29.0%	N/A
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	441	N/A
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Visual & Performing Arts Communications Technology English Language and Literature Computer and Information Science Multidisciplinary Studies	Visual & Performing Arts Multidisciplinary Studies Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio	7:1	4:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	N/A

Outcome
Graduation rate	71.9%	31.8%
Dropout rate	28.1%	68.2%
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	Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: N/A Year 3: $32,786 Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $27,309 Year 2: $30,119 Year 3: $30,264 Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $22,116 Year 2: $28,381 Year 3: $29,237 Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,494 Year 2: $22,420 Year 3: $16,882 Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $16,008 Year 3: N/A

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California Institute of the Arts vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

California Institute of the Arts

San Francisco Art Institute

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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