California Institute of the Arts vs Notre Dame
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and University of Notre Dame stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique blend of academic excellence and vibrant campus life. CalArts, renowned for its exceptional arts programs, boasts an acceptance rate of 33%, while Notre Dame, a prestigious research university with a strong liberal arts foundation, maintains a highly selective acceptance rate of 18%. CalArts' student body is predominantly composed of aspiring artists, musicians, and performers, while Notre Dame's student population reflects a diverse range of academic interests, with popular majors spanning the humanities, social sciences, and STEM fields. Both institutions boast impressive graduation rates, with CalArts reporting a 75% graduation rate and Notre Dame achieving a remarkable 94% graduation rate. To help you make an informed decision about your academic journey, we present a comprehensive side-by-side comparison of these two esteemed institutions, highlighting key differences in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and
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![]() California Institute of the Arts |
![]() University of Notre Dame |
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Overview |
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Location | Valencia, California | Notre Dame, Indiana |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: 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% | 98.0% |
![]() |
No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | |
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 29.0% | 15.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | N/A | 1410 - 1550 |
ACT range | N/A | 32 - 35 |
Students submitting SAT score | 33.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 36.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 2,364 | 23,642 |
Total number of admissions given out | 685 | 3,562 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 203 | 2,059 |
Yield rate | 29.6% | 57.8% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Not required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $79,792 | $78,347 |
Average net price | $53,916 | $30,513 |
Tuition | $52,850 | $58,336 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,040
Meal plan:
$5,095
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$16,304 |
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $18,119 |
57.0%
Average amount $46,306 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $5,615 |
30.0%
Average amount $4,134 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $12,000 |
12.0%
Average amount $8,564 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
965
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
8,973
Men 51.6% Women 48.4% |
Graduate students |
479
Men 37.2% Women 62.8% |
4,166
Men 56.5% Women 43.5% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 93.1% |
International students | 29.0% | 12.1% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 441 | 6,919 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | Illinois California Texas Indiana New York |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 71.9% | 95.9% |
Dropout rate | 28.1% | 3.9% |
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)
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Business Administration, Management and Operations (First Professional Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (First Professional Degrees)
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (First Professional Degrees)
Law (First Professional Degrees)
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Chemical Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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