California College of the Arts
San Francisco, CA
California College of the Arts admitted 2,687 of 3,661 applicants for the fall 2023 entering class (73.4%).
Every figure on this page is published by the college or a federal survey, and carries the source it came from. They describe the fall 2023 entering class, a read on the school, not a prediction about any one applicant.
What stands out at California College of the Arts
Three things California College of the Arts published, ranked by how much each could change what you actually do, not by how impressive it looks. Every one describes a class that has already enrolled.
California College of the Arts reports that test scores are not considered at all.
That is the school’s own answer on the form it fills in every year. A score you send is not read as part of the decision here.
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
The admit rate fell from 88% to 73% between fall 2018 and fall 2023.
Both ends are measured rates for classes that have already enrolled: a rate that moved, not a forecast. The fall 2023 figure is the one at the top of this page.
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2018 to fall 2023
Families paid $53,909 on average after aid.
Averaged across students who received federal aid: the price after grants and scholarships, not the sticker price.
Source: the College Scorecard
Every figure, in full
The same measured fields on every one of these pages. Nothing is filled in where the school published nothing.
Acceptance rate
73.4%
2,687 admitted of 3,661 applicants
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
Where do you actually stand at California College of the Arts?
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
See where I stand ›3 days free · $0 today · cancel anytime
How the rate has moved
Two measured admit rates from the federal survey, the years apart it reports them. A rate that moved, not a forecast.
Between fall 2018 and fall 2023 the admit rate fell from 88% to 73%.
What California College of the Arts says it weighs
The school's own words, from the form it fills in every year. Ranked as it ranks them.
- Course rigorrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- GPArequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Recommendationsrequired
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
Not considered
- Essay
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Test scores
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Class rank
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
- Legacy
Source: the federal IPEDS survey, fall 2023
What students actually pay
Net price after grants and scholarships: not the sticker price.
Average net price: $53,909 a year.
- Family income under $30k
- $61,407
- $30k–$48k
- $43,261
- $48k–$75k
- $45,378
- $75k–$110k
- $46,060
- Over $110k
- $56,394
Source: the College Scorecard
Essays on this application
1 essay prompt on the application: 1 you would write.
Published deadlines
Each date is read from the college's own materials and re-checked on a schedule.
- Rolling AdmissionJanuary 1, 2027
Verified July 12, 2026
More colleges on the record
Every one of these carries the same measured figures, with the same sources.
Other colleges in California
The pages nearest this one on acceptance rate, in the same state.
Colleges with a nearby acceptance rate
Anywhere in the country, ordered by how close the published rate is to this one. A selection rule, not a ranking.
Build the list this school belongs on.
The figures above describe a class that already enrolled. GoodGoblin reads them against your own transcript, scores and activities, then builds the balanced list, the essay plan and the deadline calendar around what it finds.
See where I stand ›3 days free · $0 today · cancel anytime
