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California Institute of Integral Studies

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VerifiedPrivate (Not for Profit)Estd. 1968
Founded
1968
Type
Private (Not for Profit)
University Guide

About California Institute of Integral Studies

Explore overview, courses, fees, admissions, campus life, scholarships and student accommodation guidance in one premium Admistay guide.

California Institute of Integral Studies is a U.S. based University established in the year 1968 in San Francisco. The University promotes a variety of courses under a broad field of Integral studies. The students from this University learn different unique and new courses and by implying them in practical life, they can achieve heights with the same. The overall fee requirements of the University are lower than that of the other Universities in the same region.

CIIS offers several Undergraduate and Post-Graduate courses as well as Doctorate courses. The University is specialised for the training of students in integral studies. Admission at CIIS requires some test scores as well as other requirements for the admission and offers main courses like Humanities, Business, Psychology, Culture, etc and also carries out a special course on Human Sexuality in the entire West coast. Besides the normal traditional courses, the University offers several unique courses and help students imbibe the knowledge of these courses.

The University upgrades students and engages in delivering the integral courses to make them self-reliant in the future. As per Unirank, it is at 767th rank in the country i.e. in the United States.CIIS includes 8-10% of the International students approximately 115 students from 30 different countries around the world, making it a very diverse and safe place for students to pursue their education from the US.

Highlights

Type Private
Campus Setting Urban
Application mode Online
Graduation rate 85%
Cost of living 3,632 USD Per month
Number of Students 1,502
Academic calendar Semester based
Finance type Non-profit
Number of schools 4 Schools
Medium of instructions English
Application fee 65 USD
Cost of Attendance 20,230 USD
Admission helpdesk [email protected]; (415) 655-5577
Official website https://www.ciis.edu/

CIIS Campus

  • The University has 4 schools:-
    • American College of Traditional and Chinese Medicine (ACTCM) - The school offers professional and postgraduate degrees in acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
    • School of Consciousness and Transformation – The school includes arts, humanities and social science subjects. The school offers courses like Anthropology and social change, East-West sexuality, etc.
    • School of Professional Psychology and Health – The school engages in different counselling streams like Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychology, etc.
    • School of Undergraduate studies – The school offers two basic courses i.e. Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Interdisciplinary Studies and Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology.
  • The Zen Garden is known to be the campus’ speciality. The Garden is on the Sixth floor. It is a rooftop sanctuary open to all that includes live plants, a seating area, flowers and a rock garden too.

Residence

  • The University does not provide for hostels and accommodations and the students who study in it live in nearby lodgings or are day-scholars.
  • The students can find lodgings, hotels, hostels nearby the place or any apartments too.
  • The University provides a Student Life tab for the students of CIIS on which the already existing students can post about the lodgings or the hostels and rentals nearby the University in San Francisco.

Programs

  • CIIS offers several programs for the students in inter-disciplinary areas. It offers many undergraduate course completion programs, graduate programs, online distance learning programs, and four academic schools enriched in their own disciplines.
  • The Undergraduate course completion programs offers: Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary studies and Bachelor of Science in Psychology
  • The Graduate Programs include Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, Anthropology and Social change, Asian Philosophies and culture, etc.
  • Besides these courses, the CIIS also offers 7 online distance learning courses including courses.
  • The University includes more than 3,000 teachers as a part of faculty for teaching different subjects and courses.
  • A special course on Human Sexuality is the course only offered by the University in the entire West coast region.

CIIS Admission Process

  • International students can apply for admission at CIIS online.
  • The application fee is 65 USD.
  • For almost all the courses, the students need to have:-
    • A GPA of a minimum of 3.0 in the previous course that they have completed.
    • SAT and ACT score also required for some courses.
    • As the University’s medium is English, hence it requires certain test scores: TOEFL- 80, PTE- 53 and IELTS- 6.0.
  • Documents Required:-
    • Official Transcripts earned in the earlier years with at least 7 or credits.
    • An autobiographical statement of 4-6 pages.
    • A goal statement
    • 2 Letters of Recommendation
    • An academic writing sample of 8-10 pages.
  • The California Institute of Integral Studies’ overall six year as well as eight years graduation rate is 87%.
  • Graduation dropout rate is only 15.8%.
  • The University does not offer any diploma course.
  • Degree Program enrolment of the University can be seen as:-
  • Segregation according to the mode of teaching:-
Courses Percentage Of Enrolment
On-campus 69%
Online distance learning 24%
Mixed programs 7%

Cost of Attendance

  • The estimated total cost of Attendance including the direct and indirect costs is USD 65,002 including the tuition fee and the other expenses.
  • The amounts of the estimated total may vary from student to student depending upon the courses and the facilities they choose.

Tuition fees:

  • According to the courses as per records:-
Courses Tuition fee
Undergraduate courses 20,222 USD
Master courses 21,400 USD
Doctoral Degree 24,658 USD
Psy D Degree 32,734 USD
  • The graduation application fee is 100 USD.
  • The University does not provide for the housing facility and so students have to accommodate themselves in California. The cost of Living of California at large is above the national average of the U.S. at 100. It is 149.9.
  • Additional expenses for living in San Francisco:-
Particulars Amount
Books and supplies 1,934 USD
Room and Board 23,954 USD
Transportation 1,272 USD
Personal 5,108 USD
Total 32,268 USD

Financial Aid for International Students

  • The University provides scholarships to the students who wish to study in the US
  • The Scholarship ranges from USD 1,500 - USD 3,000 a year and is given for 2 years.
  • The University provides for Undergraduate single parent scholarship too which provides scholarship to a single parent having a dependent child.
  • The students can also accumulate funds from the jobs. CIIS employment is another source and students can work while studying.
  • The students can also apply for grants from the University’s portal and contact for the same through [email protected].

Alumni

  • There are 8,523 alums of the Institute spread over 46 different countries of the world.
  • The alums of the institute receives several benefits like:-
    • The alums have benefits to access the library too free of cost.
    • They can also attend the workshops organized in the institute.
    • They can avail discounts as given by the institute for hotels, workplaces, and other related activities prescribed too.
    • Promotion codes, memberships, etc are also the perks they get.
  • Some of the Notable Alumni are Angeles Arrien (Famous for her book “The Four-Fold way”), Will Hall (Mental Health advocate), Haridas Chaudhuri (Integral Philosopher- Indian), Angela Davis (Political activist), Douglas Vakoch (Astrobiologist), Joanna Rogers Macy (Environmental Activist), and many more.

Placements

  • Companies like IBM, Google, Microsoft, etc hires students from this University.
  • The average salary for a graduate from the University in the consecutive next year can range from 21,300 USD to 150,000 USD.
  • For a job of PsyD Doctorate Degree, the Salary is 42,000 USD with benefits like Full-Time Equivalents (FTE).
  • The popular field of study includes Humanities, Business, Psychology, etc and the students from these are hired by the companies.

Covid-19 updates

  • The University has shifted its teaching over the internet so that all the students can access through the virtual mode while sitting at home.
  • It offers only a limited access in physical to the University.
  • The CIIS programs, workshops and the events are taking place online only due to the pandemic.
  • The CIIS introduces a CARES Act i.e. Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act for the students who have been impacted with the pandemic. This includes the funds for the University as well as the students.
  • The University also provides for federal student loan repayment and gives relaxation to the international students.
  • All the live lectures and classes are delivered via ZOOM application.
  • The University also grants space, funds and relaxation on some part for students’ convenience after being affected by the pandemic.
Courses & Fees

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Admission Guide

Admission Process

California Institute of Integral Studies is a private university which expands the boundaries of traditional degrees by offering transdisciplinary, hybrid, and online education models. It is a renowned institute of the US Education System that offers admissions to undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to students from all over the world. It offers education in both on-campus and online pedagogical methods. 

California Institute of Integral Studies offers 25 degree programs through 4 schools at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. Some subject areas in which programs are offered include Psychology, Health care, Leadership, Asian Philosophies and culture, Anthropology, Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, etc.

In fall, the institute had a total enrollment of 1,544 students. Out of the total students, 6% were enrolled in undergraduate programs, 50% were enrolled in graduate programs and 44% in doctoral programs. The institute hosts 6% international students from more than 47 countries.

Some points to be kept in mind while applying to California Institute of Integral Studies are as follows:

  • It invites admission applications for the fall and spring semesters.
  • Applications received after the priority deadline are also processed until seats are available.
  • CIIS considers applications on a holistic basis.
  • The institute delivers 71% programs in person while 29% programs are offered on distance learning basis.
  • Since it offers bachelor's degree completion programs at the undergraduate level, the enrollment information is not available.
  • Prospective students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 for admission.
  • Applicants with a lower GPA i.e. between 2.0 and 3.0 will also be considered.
  • TOEFL scores are accepted as proof of English language proficiency.
  • The institute looks for socially and culturally diverse applicants with the potential to succeed in the chosen field.
  • Past academic records and professional achievements as well as applicant's personal and educational motivation adds value to the application.
  • Most programs require applicants to appear for an interview. Qualified applicants will be contacted to schedule an interview which is mostly conducted in the months of February and March.
  • All admitted students are considered for scholarships. CIIS provides Diversity Scholarship, CIIS Opportunity Scholarship, etc. to international students.

Highlights

Application Portal Online portal
Type of University Private
Application Fee USD 65
Total Number of Students Enrolled (Fall) 1502
Academic Calendar Semester- based
Intake Sessions Fall/ Spring/ Summer
Financial Aid Scholarships/ Loans/ Grants/ Work- study
Work Experience Required for some courses
Work Experience Required for some courses

California Institute of Integral Studies Admission Deadlines

The institute offers a range of courses for international students at undergraduate and graduate level. The application deadlines for international applicants for Fall and Spring semesters are given below:

The admission events and important dates for students seeking admission in the fall semester are as follows:

Admission Event Dates
Applications available from November 15
Application deadline for Drama Therapy January 15
Application deadline for most undergraduate and graduate programs February 15

California Institute of Integral Studies International Student Admissions

Some additional requirements have to be fulfilled by all the applicants belonging to countries other than the US along with the general requirements which are usually the same as the requirements for the domestic applicants.

How to apply?

Application Portal: The international students will be required to apply through the University application portal.

Application Fee: USD 65

Basic Admission Requirements

  • Official transcripts of all the previous institutions attended earlier.
  • All transcripts have to be evaluated by foreign credential evaluation services.
  • Scores of English proficiency tests are required for all the international applicants whose native language is not English.
  • There are some departmental requirements also like interviews.
  • Letter of recommendation.
  • Bank statement of finances.
  • Affidavit of support.
  • Copy of Passport.

Transcripts can be either emailed to [email protected] or they can be mailed to the given address:

1453 Mission St.
Admissions Office
San Francisco, CA 94103

English Proficiency Test Scores

All those foreign applicants whose first language is not English or those who have not secured a previous degree from an institution with English as primary medium of teaching will be required to prove their proficiency in English language by submitting their TOEFL, IELTS or any other test scores. The minimum requirements for admission in undergraduate courses are given below.

Test Minimum Requirement
TOEFL- iBT 80
IELTS 6.0
PTE Academic 53

Visa Process for International Students

International applicants will be required to get an F- 1 visa to study in the USA. The steps for obtaining the same are listed below:

  • California Institute of Integral Studies will issue the I- 20 form to the selected applicants.
  • Students will have to show proof of financial support in order to get the I- 20.
  • After completing the I- 20, the applicants will be required to pay the SEVIS I- 901 fee and then apply for F- 1 student visa by filling up the DS- 160 visa application.
  • Following documents will be required in order to complete the DS- 160 visa application are:
  • Passport
  • Photographs
  • Travel itinerary
  • International travel history
  • SEVIS fee receipt
  • Financial documents
  • Acceptance letter from the institute
  • Lastly, attend a visa interview in your country at an US consulate or embassy and get your visa approved.

California Institute of Integral Studies Undergraduate Admissions

California Institute of Integral Studies offers undergraduate degree completion programs in Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies and Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Applicants need to submit some mandatory documents to fulfil the eligibility criteria.

Where to Apply: Online Application

Application Fee: 65 USD

Admission Requirements: Applicants for undergraduate programs must fulfill the following requirements:

  • Completed California Institute of Integral Studies Application
  • Official transcripts from every attended educational institutions
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 or above
  • English Proficiency Test Scorecard (for international applicants)
  • Admission Essay
  • One Letter of Recommendation
  • Pre- Admission Interview

Students who fulfill the general education requirements demonstrate preparation to enter the chosen program. The required subjects are:

  • 3 units of college level math
  • 9 units of humanities and art
  • 6 units of natural sciences
  • 6 units of expository writing
  • 9 units of social sciences
  • 3 units of oral communications

California Institute of Integral Studies Graduate Admissions

California Institute of Integral Studies offers many graduate degrees for international candidates seeking to study in the USA. Some of the courses offered by the institute are MA in Transformative Leadership, MA in East West Psychology, MA in Expressive Arts Therapy, MA in Integral Counselling Psychology etc. All courses have specific admission requirements. The requirements for some of the courses offered by CIIS are tabulated below:

Requirements MA in Expressive Arts Therapy MA in Integral Counseling Psychology MA in Transformative Leadership MA in Somatic Psychology MA in Drama Therapy
Application Fee USD 65 USD 65 USD 65 USD 65 USD 65
UG Degree Required (GPA: 3.0) Required (GPA: 3.0) Required (GPA: 3.0) Required (GPA: 3.0) Required (GPA: 3.0)
Transcripts Required Required Required Required Required
Essay Required Autobiographical statement and goal statement Autobiographical statement and goal statement Autobiographical statement Autobiographical statement and goal statement
Statement of Purpose Not required Not required Not required Required Not required
Writing sample Required Not required Required Not required Not required
Resume Required Not required Required Required Not required
Recommendations Required (2 letters) Required (2 letters) Required (2 letters) Required (2 letters) Required (2 letters)
Additional requirements - - - - Background outline; Interview

The institute does not have any fixed timeframe for decision notifications. However, decisions are likely to be announced 4-5 weeks after the submission of the admission applications.

It is advised to apply at the earliest as the institute stops accepting applications for the courses in which seats get filled. Students should also apply for financial aid at the earliest to increase their chances of getting the aid. Prospective students can contact the Admission’s office for any queries at [email protected] or 415-575-6154.

FAQs

Ques. Will my application be disqualified if my GPA is below 3.0?

Ans. No. California Institute of Integral Studies does not disqualify any applicant. Applicants with a high school GPA between 2.0 and 3.0 will be considered. Such applicants will be asked to submit a GPA statement and must also contact the Office of Admissions to discuss their options.

Ques. Does my transcript require evaluation?

Ans. Transcripts issued by institutions outside the U.S. or Canada must be submitted to World Education Services (WES) foreign credential evaluation service for a course-by-course evaluation report. The institute will also accept course-by-course foreign credential evaluation from a current NACES member.

Ques. What makes the California Institute of Integral Studies admission application strong?

Ans. Ability to think creatively and critically, writing and communication skills, good grades, professional and personal achievements are some factors that the California Institute of Integral Studies considers while selecting applicants. If an applicant has these skills/achievements, the application will automatically strong and chances to get shortlisted will increase.

Ques. Who can write a letter of recommendation for me?

Ans. California Institute of Integral Studies will accept letters of recommendation from academic advisors, professors, professional supervisors or individuals who can attest your capability to succeed at the university.

Ques. Do I have to attend an interview?

Ans. Applicants for the BA completion program, most MA programs, ACTCM, PsyD and PhD programs may be invited to an individual or group interview before admission. The format of the interview may vary from program to program.

Placements & Recruiters

California Institute of Integral Studies Placement Details

California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco, California, United States placement details include salary insights, top recruiters, and hiring trends to help students understand career outcomes and campus opportunities.

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Rankings over the years

Year-wise highlights from global and country rankings available for this university.

2025

Highlights
2025
  • Psychology: #23 in country
  • Top source: US News
  • 1 ranked streams
  • Focus areas: Psychology
  • 1 ranking record in 2025

Contact Information

1453 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103

+1-415-575-6100