The University of the Arts (UArts) vs California Institute of the Arts

The University of the Arts (UArts) and California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) stand out as prestigious institutions dedicated to nurturing artistic talents. While both share a commitment to excellence in the arts, they offer distinct experiences. UArts, located in the heart of Philadelphia, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible choice for aspiring artists. CalArts, nestled in Valencia, California, is known for its highly selective admissions process, resulting in a smaller and more competitive student body. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision that aligns with your artistic aspirations and academic goals.
California Institute of the Arts logo

California Institute of the Arts

The University of the Arts logo

The University of the Arts

Overview

Location Valencia, California Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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% 87.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 29.0% 85.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
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 1,293
Total number of admissions given out 685 1,101
Admitted students who chose to enroll 203 269
Yield rate 29.6% 24.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Not required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,792 $68,690
Average net price $53,916 $25,932
Tuition $52,850 $48,350
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,040

Meal plan: $5,095
Room/dormitory: $11,380

Meal plan: $6,250
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $18,119
100.0%
Average amount $26,798
Students receiving federal student loan 26.0%
Average amount $5,615
94.0%
Average amount $5,851
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $12,000
21.0%
Average amount $24,297

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 965
Men 41.6% Women 58.4%
1,397
Men 34.7% Women 65.3%
Graduate students 479
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
160
Men 28.8% Women 71.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 29.0% 2.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 441 582
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
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
  • Education
  • Communications Technology
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 7:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 71.9% 68.1%
Dropout rate 28.1% 31.7%
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
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,721
  • Year 2: $50,677
  • Year 3: $49,511
Museology/Museum Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,796
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $44,041
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,047
  • Year 2: $21,964
  • Year 3: $30,926
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $18,932
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $29,322
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,815
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $28,945
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,696
  • Year 2: $21,052
  • Year 3: $28,612
Dance (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,267
  • Year 2: $21,613
  • Year 3: $26,673
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $16,297
  • Year 2: $18,771
  • Year 3: $25,853
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,067
  • Year 2: $22,329
  • Year 3: $25,752
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $18,579
  • Year 2: $19,358
  • Year 3: $25,140

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