California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts, located in Valencia, California, sits roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. As a dedicated arts school, CalArts fosters a creative and experimental atmosphere for students in visual and performing arts. The institute is distinctive for being the first degree-granting higher education institution in the US created specifically for both visual and performing arts.
Financial Aid
The sticker price is rarely what families actually pay. California Institute of the Arts's grant and scholarship aid lowers the net price for most income brackets. 22% of students receive Pell Grants; 34% take federal loans.
Average net price across income brackets is $42,045, roughly 26% lower than the published tuition.
Net Price by Family Income
Academic Year 2025| Income Bracket | Avg Net Price | 4-Year Net Cost |
|---|---|---|
| $0 – $30K | $33,802 | $135,208 |
| $30K – $48K | $37,082 | $148,328 |
| $48K – $75K | $35,788 | $143,152 |
| $75K – $110K | $44,448 | $177,792 |
| $110K+ | $59,106 | $236,424 |
| Sticker price (no aid) | $56,724 | $226,896 |
Programs at California Institute of the Arts
3 degree programs ranked by DegreeOutlook Score. Click any program for AI scenario analysis and 10-year earnings projections.
| Degree Program | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | AI Risk | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Film & Photography
Film/Video and Photographic Arts Compare across schools → |
20
|
$28,247/yr | High | 0.2x |
|
Theater & Drama
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft Compare across schools → |
15
|
$22,673/yr | Moderate | 0.6x |
| Music Compare across schools → |
15
|
$18,896/yr | High | 0.4x |
More Colleges in California
Top-scored 4-year colleges and universities elsewhere in California, ranked by average DegreeOutlook Score across their programs.