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California College of the Arts
7.0(1)
VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1907
Founded
1907
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide
About California College of the Arts
Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.
California College of the Arts is a private college, located across the bay area with two distinct campuses in San Francisco and Oakland. It has been ranked by many national and global ranking institutions as one of the best arts and design colleges in the U.S. The college has a total enrollment of 1,456 undergraduates and 394 graduates. It has an inclusive culture and environment that attracts international students from over 50 countries. Around 42% of the student body comprises international students.
The California College of the Arts offers 22 undergraduate and 11 graduate programs in areas of architecture, design, humanities, science and fine arts. Some of the most well-known disciplines of the college include graphic design, ceramics and fine arts. The acceptance rate of the college is seen to be 88%. The college has a retention rate of 81% for first-year students pursuing bachelor’s degrees returning for the sophomore year. California College of the Arts has been named one of the 10 most diverse colleges in the U.S. The college has landed as the #1 art school in the U.S., #16 best art schools in terms of salary potential and top 20 best value colleges for art majors by Payscale.
California College of the Arts Rankings
California College of the Arts is a top-tier arts college in the U.S. which has been ranked as follows:
U.S. News and World Report
- #10 in Best Fine Arts programs
- #6 in Ceramics
- #4 in Graphic Design
Times Higher Education World University Rankings
- 401-500th in U.S. College Rankings
Highlights
| Type | Private |
| Campus Setting | Urban |
| Student Retention Rate | 81% |
| English Proficiency Score | TOEFL or equivalent |
| Financial Aid | Scholarships |
| Admission Helpdesk | [email protected] |
California College of the Arts Campus
- CCA is one college with two dynamic campuses in the Bay Area in San Francisco and Oakland campuses.
- While most of the undergraduate programs are spread over both the campuses, the majority of graduate courses are based in San Francisco.
- The main campus of San Francisco includes facilities like academic buildings, writer’s studios, residence halls, family event centers, street galleries, and planning center.
- Open to all undergraduate and graduate architecture students, the Digital Craft Lab (DCL) is a collaborative space for advanced research, digital fabrication, data visualization, and material experimentation.
California College of the Arts Residence
- There are four residence halls on the CCA campus, Founders’ Hall, Blattner Hall, Panoramic Residence are in San Francisco and Irwin Hall in Oakland campus.
- All the students are required to stay on-campus for the first two years of study. The basic amenities of these halls comprise of :
- Founders’ Hall: open-air indoor courtyard, common spaces, storage, beds, desks, and shower stalls to minimize traffic for morning classes.
- Blattner Hall: environmentally sustainable design, eat-in kitchen, living room, ample closet space, ground-floor retail space, two outdoor courtyards, on-site laundry facilities, and mailboxes, etc.
- Panoramic Residences: extra-long twin beds, dining space, a kitchenette with steel appliances, on-site bike storage as well as a bike repair station.
- Irwin Hall: TV, couches, tables, microwave and refrigerator units in every room, laundry facilities across the street, and high-speed internet jacks in every room.
California College of the Arts Programs
- The rich curriculum of CCA offers 22 undergraduate and 11 graduate programs. These programs vary over the disciplines of Architecture, Design, Fine Arts, Humanities + Social Sciences.
- Popular majors among international students are Animation, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Illustration, and Industrial and Product Design.
- Four dual-degree courses are also available. Specializing in foam, plastic, and wood, the Model Shop is open to all students.
- Pre-college programs, Summer Atelier, and the Young Artist Studio Program are some short term courses available for school students.
California College of the Arts Application Process
Application Portal:
- For UG: Common Application/ CCA Application
- For PG: CCA Application
Application Fee: USD 70
Supporting Documents:
- Personal Essay
- High school and/or University transcripts
- Letter of Recommendations
- Portfolio (login to Slide Room)
- Proof of English proficiency
Admission Deadlines
Given below are the deadlines for undergraduate and graduate students:
| Semester | Undergraduate | Graduate |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | November 15 | January 10 |
| Spring | October 1 | - |
California College Of The Arts Cost Of Attendance
The cost of studying in the U.S. must be estimated before applying to the university. Given below is the undergraduate cost of attendance for the California College of the Arts:
| Expense | Amount (in USD) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | 50,592 |
| Fees | 545 |
| Housing/room | 13,057 |
| Food | 5,536 |
| Personal/miscellaneous | 2,200 |
| Transportation | 1,250 |
| Books and supplies | 1,500 |
| Total estimated cost | 74,680 |
The total estimated graduate cost of attendance is as follows:
| Expense | MFA Film, MFA Fine arts, MFA Design (in USD) | MFA Writing, MA Curatorial practice (in USD) | MA Visual+Critical Studies (in USD) | MFA Comics (in USD) | MDes Interaction Design (in USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 53,250 | 42,600 | 31,950 | 34,128 | 63,900 |
| Fees | 545 | 545 | 545 | 545 | 545 |
| Housing/room | 9,815 | 9,815 | 9,815 | 11,396 | 10,906 |
| Food | 5,536 | 5,536 | 5,536 | 6,151 | 6,151 |
| Personal/miscellaneous | 2,570 | 2,570 | 2,570 | 2,856 | 2,856 |
| Transportation | 1,590 | 1,590 | 1,590 | 1,767 | 1,767 |
| Books and supplies | 2,200 | 1,760 | 1,320 | 1,760 | 2,640 |
| Total estimated cost | 75,506 | 64,416 | 53,326 | 58,578 | 88,765 |
California College of the Arts International Student Scholarships
- Every year the College awards more than 24 million USD college-funded scholarships and 45 million USD in combined scholarships, grants, loans, and employment to students. 74% of CCA’s students receive scholarships or some other type of financial aid.
- Undergraduate scholarships are based on student’s portfolios and academic success and range from 10,000 USD to 22,000 USD.
- Graduate scholarships are based on the strength of the student’s application and are highly selective. It ranges from 10,000 to 36,000 USD.
- Six scholarships that are open for all International students are given below:
Some of the scholarships are given below:
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate scholarship | Based on the student's portfolio and academic success. | 10,000-20,000 USD |
| Graduate scholarship | Based on the student’s application. | 10,000-36,000 USD |
For need-based Financial Aid, International Student Affairs and Programs office enlist the following for reference:
- Education USA
- Fulbright
- International Student Loan Centre
California College of the Arts Alumni Network
- CCA Alumni Association consists of more than 200 active members’ in fields of architecture, art, design, writing, arts administration, nonprofit organizations, and more.
- The unique benefits to alumni are:
- Triannual Magazine ALUMNI NOTES and Biannual Magazine GLANCE publication
- Access to CCA Library and resources
- Discounts at Kala Art Institute, Artist & Craftsman Supply, FLAX Art Supply, Sports Basement and more
- Sell personalized work at Shop CCA store Directory
- Attend lectures, exhibitions, events and more
- Access to vend wares for free at biannual CCA Arts and Crafts Fair
- Some distinguished alumni are:
- Patrick Coyne: editor and designer of Communication Arts magazine
- Tecoah Bruce: art consultant, former board chair, and current trustee
- Gaby Brink: designer, founder, and chief designer of Tomorrow Partners
California College of the Arts Placements
- CCA organizes a private employment job fair known as Career Expo. This fair helps students to meet local and global industry-leading employers.
- Graduates are highly sought after by companies such as Pixar/Disney, Apple, Intel, Facebook, Gensler, Google, IDEO, Autodesk, Mattel, and Nike.
- The Career Development team of CCA helps a student to build skills they need to grab an internship. They help them to access a wide range of internships and career opportunities by exploring Handshake, alumni, CCA’S job board for students and employers.
- The popular companies which recruit from CCA are Hirsch Bedner, Facebook Inc, Perkins, and Will, Adobe Systems Incorporated, and Capital One Financial Corp.
- The average salary of CCA graduates is $74,073. Amongst these, Senior Product Designer and Product Designer earn $146,000 and $92,000 respectively.
- According to the college website, 83% of undergraduates and 81% of graduates got jobs after 12 months of graduating.
FAQs
Ques. Is California College of the Arts a good school?
Ans. California College of the Arts is a top tier school of arts and design in the U.S.
Ques.What GPA is required for admission to California College of the Arts?
Ans. An average high school GPA of 3.2 is required for admission to California College of the Arts.
Ques. Are SAT/ ACT scores required for admission to California College of the Arts?
Ans. No. SAT/ ACT scores are not required for admission to California College of the Arts.
Ques.What is the tuition fee at California College of the Arts?
Ans. The tuition fee at California College of the Arts is 50,592 USD for undergraduates and varies between 31,950 USD to 63,900 USD for graduate students.
Ques.What is the average financial aid available at California College of the Arts?
Ans. The average amount of financial aid available to students at California College of the Arts is 21,837 USD.
Ques.When are applications for admission to California College of the Arts available?
Ans. Applications for admission to undergraduate programs are available from August 1 and applications for admission to graduate programs are available from October 1.
Courses & Fees
Compare courses in a cleaner, easier way
Explore tuition, duration, language, eligibility, and exam requirements without the clutter.
Courses
16
Fee from
₹49,13,515.14
Exams
IELTS · TOEFL
Showing 5 bachelors
Overview
Degree TypeBachelor
Duration5 years
Study ModeFull Time
LanguageEnglish
Fees
Tuition FeeINR 53.5 L/Yr
Native FeeUSD 57,096 /Yr
Estimated Total₹346056
Admission Guide
Admission Process
Admissions at California College of the Arts are accepted for the Fall and Spring semester. In the fall intake of 2018, a total of 2,292 students applied for California College of the Arts undergraduate admissions. Around 88% of applicants, equalling 2,016 students were admitted. The College Website also mentions an average acceptance rate of 88%. Clearly, it is considerably easy to secure admission, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.
California College of Arts offers undergraduate and graduate programs in around 21 disciplines, with Architecture, Design, Fine Arts and Humanities and Sciences being the core disciplines. The College also offers courses in some of the lesser-known and emerging disciplines such as Illustration, Furniture, Textiles, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Print Media, Sculpture, Jewellery and Metal Arts, Interaction Design and Ceramics.
- The CCA receives applications on a rolling basis. Also, it is important to note that it does not have an open admission policy.
- Although the CCA considers applications on a rolling basis, applicants seeking to avail of scholarships must apply by the priority deadline.
- The priority deadline for all graduate programs (domestic and international) is January 10, post which no scholarships shall be available.
- Transfer applicants must submit their post-secondary evaluation documents in a translated version, preferably translated through the World Education Services, SpanTran or IEE.
- Another unique feature of the CCA admissions process is that undocumented students, or students not possessing a valid citizenship status, can also apply for the programs by clicking on the “Dreamers” Option on the College website.
- An average financial aid package of 30,706 USD is available from the college, which can notably fund 59% of the financial needs of UG students.
Highlights
| Application Portal | Online Portal |
| Application Fee (non-refundable) | 70 USD |
| Acceptance Rate | 88% |
| Mode of Payment | Mastercard/Visa/American Express/Discover |
| Payment Deadline | Within 2 weeks of receiving offer letter |
| Academic Calendar | Semester-based |
| Intake Seasons | Fall and Spring |
| Work Experience | Not Required for Graduate Students |
| Financial aid | Loans, Scholarships, Grants, Work-Study |
| International Helpdesk | UG: [email protected] PG: [email protected] [email protected] or contact Michael Rossi (+1 510-594-3687)/ Kress McLaren (+1 323-507-2299) |
California College of Arts Admission Deadlines
The CCA invites applications on a rolling basis. However, students wishing to avail of scholarships must apply by the priority deadlines mentioned below.
| UNDERGRADUATE FALL SEMESTER | |
|---|---|
|
Undergraduate application becomes available |
August 1 |
| Undergraduate Fall priority deadline (Early Action) | November 15 |
| Undergraduate fall priority deadline (First-year scholarships) | February 1 |
| Undergraduate fall priority deadline (Transfer Scholarships) | March 1 |
| Undergraduate deadlines to confirm attendance | June 1 |
| UNDERGRADUATE SPRING SEMESTER | |
| Undergraduate spring priority deadlines for first year and transfer students | October 1 |
| GRADUATE ADMISSIONS | |
| Graduate Application becomes available | October 1 |
| Graduate Application priority deadline | January 10 |
| Graduate deadline to confirm attendance | May 1 |
California College of the Arts International Admissions
California College of the Arts accepts applications from international students, provided that they meet the eligibility criteria and admission factors. Although the admission procedure is similar for domestic and international applicants, international applications must meet some additional requirements to be eligible.
Admission Requirements
International applicants must fulfil the requirements mentioned below to be eligible for California College of Arts Admissions:
- Submission of the online application form
- A deposit of 70 USD as non-refundable application fee
- Personal Essay
- High School/University transcripts
- Proof of Secondary Education, i.e., GPA or percentage obtained in the 10+2 graduation from a recognised Board,
- CGPA,
- Academic records and graduation certificate if applying for a second Bachelor’s degree/Graduate courses
- Unofficial College Transcripts (Graduate)
- LORS: 1 for UG and 2 for Graduate programs
- Portfolio set-up
- Translated Post-Secondary College Transcript for Transfer Applicants
- Resume/CV for Graduate programs
- Scores of Required Standardized Tests
- Proof of financial support with a letter of Support from the person funding
- Submission of all financial documents, demonstrating ability to pay the requisite fees
- Completing the I-20 Request form, with proof of funding
- Personal Information Page of Passport
- Furnishing tax information of the past 2 years through the IRS Data Retrieval System
- Additional documents as proof of eligibility for financial aid such as:
- Asset Net Worth Form
- Business or Farm Supplement
- Verification Dependant Worksheet
- Parent/Student Low Income Statement
Optional Requirements: Portfolio Set-up (For MBA applicants in Design Strategy), GRE Scores
English Proficiency Test Scores for International Students
International applicants must present the scores of any of the following tests: IELTS, TOEFL, CEFR, C1 Advanced, PTE Academic, Duolingo English Test.
The minimum required scores for each test are
Undergraduate
| TEST | MINIMUM SCORE |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 550 on the PBT/80 on the iBT |
| IELTS | 6.5 |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 |
| C1 Advanced | Grade C |
| CEFR | C1 |
| PTE Academic | 58 |
Graduate
| TEST | MINIMUM SCORE |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 100 on the Ibt / 600 on the PBT |
| IELTS | 7.5 |
| C1 Advanced | Grade B |
| CEFR | C2 |
| PTE Academic | 73 |
| Duolingo English Test | 120 |
Visa Process for International Students
International applicants must apply for a student visa to study in the USA after sending the application letter. The US Embassy has country-specific requirements for issuing a student visa, which can be viewed from the Student Visa section of the US Embassy Website. It is wise to keep records of college and school degrees, certificates, and transcripts, along with financial documents ready, in case there is any further introspection after the visa interview.
Before applying for the student visa, the applicant must secure the I-20 form from the college. The following is the procedure to secure the I-20 Form:
- Submission of Financial Documents to prove ability to cover the Estimated Total Cost in the I-20 Request Form
- Official Bank Statement and Letter of Support from any sponsor to be filled in the I-20 Request Form
- Admission and Payment of Advance Enrolment Deposit
- Personal Information Page of Passport
- Completed I-20 Request Form
California College of the Arts Undergraduate Admissions
The CCA offers undergraduate courses in a variety of subjects like Animation, Architecture, Ceramics, Community Arts, Furniture, Graphic Design, Illustration, Glass, Jewellery and Metal Arts, Industrial Design, History of Arts and Visual Culture, Interior Design, and many more.
Where to Apply: Online Application Portal (CCA Application/ Common Application)
Application Fee: 70 USD
Admission Requirements: Applicants must gather the following documents for admission:
- Post-Secondary/Secondary Transcripts
- Personal Essay (500 words or less)
- 1 LOR (From a teacher or school-based counsellor)
- Portfolio Set-Up (Reflecting Creative Projects and Works made)
- English Proficiency Scores (Only for International Students)
California College of the Arts Graduate Admissions
California College of the Arts offers graduate programs in Design, Design Strategy, Comics, Curatorial Practice, Fine Arts, Film, Interaction Design, Architecture, Advanced Architectural Design, Visual and Critical Studies and Writing.
The admission requirements for Graduate Courses are:
- Unofficial College/University Transcripts
- 2 LORs from academic and professional sources
- Portfolio Set-Up with all Transcripts and Application Documents
- Personal Essay
- Resume (1-2 pages)/ CV
- Interview – On-Campus or Skype Interview (By invitation)
- GRE Scores (Optional)
- English Proficiency Test Score (For International Applicants)
In addition to the above, here are some of the specific academic requirements for the most popular graduate programs offered by CCA:
| Requirements | Master in Architecture | Master in Design | Master in Fine Arts | Master in Film | Master in Comics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMAT/GRE | Recommended | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Personal Essay | 500-1000 words, submitted in PDF format | 500-1000 words, submitted via SlideRoom in PDF format. | 500-1000 words, submitted in PDF format. | 500-1000 words, submitted in PDF format | 500-1000 words, submitted in PDF format |
| Work Experience | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required | Not Required |
| Professional CV/Resume and Portfolio Requirements | Portfolio must reflect creative achievements and may provide links to relevant external websites, videos, or other materials; maximum of 30 pages as a PDF file no larger than 10 MB. |
Portfolio must be up to 25 images, video, time-based media or interactive media. | Portfolio may include images, videos and time-based or interactive media. | Applicants must submit a 5-minute sample reel, with title, date, running time and a brief description of the subject. | Applicants must submit writing samples, which may include novels, short stories, creative nonfiction, a screenplay section, or comic book scripts. |
| LOR | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
From the statistics and analysis stated above, it is sufficiently clear that California College of the Arts is moderately-highly selective in accepting admissions. The primary admission factors to ace up chances of selection include a creative, detailed and inspiring personal essay, an average academic record in secondary/post-secondary/university education (the class profile has an average GPA of 3.2), a strong LOR, and a portfolio set-up with past projects and work that truly stands out.
An early interest in the field of study, supported by extra-curricular achievements, along with community service and innovative initiatives are what CCA looks for in the applications. After the application is accepted, the applicant will receive a response typically within 2 weeks, and a call for an interview.
Make sure that you do not miss the priority deadlines to avail of the financial aid options! The priority deadline for the fall intake semester of UG is Feb 1 and for the spring semester, it is Oct 1. The priority deadline for all graduate programs is Jan 10.
International applicants may address all their queries at [email protected] .
FAQs
Ques. What is the Acceptance Rate at California College of Arts?
Ans. The Lawrence Technological University has an acceptance rate of 88%
Ques. Does California College of Arts refund your application fees in case I am denied application?
Ans. No, California College of Arts does not refund your application fees.
Ques. Does CCA waive of application fees under any condition?
Ans. Yes, to request for an application fees waiver, the applicant should write to the College after applying online. The College will waive of the application fees if the applicant can prove his/her financial hardships. However, application fee waiver is not applicable for International students.
Ques. What if my TOEFL/IELTS scores do not meet your requirements?
Ans. In case the applicant does not meet the minimum score the College suggests to take a retest as soon as possible. The college may review your application even if you do not meet the minimum English requirement; however, CCA will not review the application if the applicant does not have the score at all.
Ques. Are International students eligible for financial aid at CCA?
Ans.The college awards all the state and federal funds to only US citizens; however, international students are eligible for scholarships and grants which are very limited and competitive.
Placements & Recruiters
California College of the Arts Placement Details
California College of the Arts in Oakland, California, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.
Students usually compare highest package, average package, and recruiter profile before applying. This section gives a compact overview of career outcomes and placement visibility in Oakland, California, United States.
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Placement Metric
Average Package
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Shows the typical package range students may expect based on the available average salary data.
Placement information is currently limited.
More salary or recruiter data may be updated later for this college.
Rankings over the years
Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.
2017
Highlights
2017
2017
- Design: #14 in country
- Top source: QS
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Design
- 1 ranking record in 2017
2018
Highlights
2018
2018
- Design: #12 in country
- Top source: QS
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Design
- 1 ranking record in 2018
2019
Highlights
2019
2019
- Design: #10 in country
- Top source: QS
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Design
- 1 ranking record in 2019
2020
Highlights
2020
2020
- Design: #9 in country
- Top source: QS
- 1 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Design
- 1 ranking record in 2020
2024
Highlights
2024
2024
- Design: #15 in country
- Top source: QS
- 2 ranked streams
- Focus areas: Arts, Design
- 1 ranking record in 2024
Contact Information
Student Reviews & Ratings
Overall sentiment and category-wise rating summary
Overall score
7.0/10
Top Rated
Based on 1 rating
Rating Breakdown
Visual summary of rating distribution and categories
Live Summary
Academic
9.0/10
Faculty
8.0/10
Infrastructure
7.0/10
Accommodation
10.0/10
Placement
8.0/10