California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
California College of the Arts at a Glance
The California College of the Arts (CCA) is a private art school in San Francisco, California. It was founded in Berkeley, California in 1907 and moved to a historic estate in Oakland, California in 1922. In 1996, it opened a second campus in San Francisco; in 2022, the Oakland campus was closed and merged into the San Francisco campus. CCA enrolls approximately 1,239 undergraduates and 380 graduate students. In January 2026, CCA president David Howse announced the college will be closing at the…
Is California College of the Arts Worth It?
At a value score of 14/100, California College of the Arts is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $49,414 — 8% below average — while paying $53,909/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
With a 4.4-year payback period, most graduates recoup their total cost of attendance relatively quickly.
The 62% graduation rate means roughly 38% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
With a 91% acceptance rate, admission is essentially open — the question isn't whether you'll get in, but whether the investment will pay off.
With median debt of $27,000 representing 55% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at California College of the Arts has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How California College of the Arts compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #150 of 158 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 100 | $672 | $39,260 |
| #2 | Saint Mary's University of Minnesota | 83 | $11,704 | $58,170 |
| #3 | Christian Brothers University | 81 | $9,854 | $57,478 |
| #4 | Andrews University | 73 | $12,547 | $53,187 |
| #5 | Albizu University-San Juan | 73 | $9,732 | $41,544 |
| #6 | Trinity Washington University | 67 | $9,302 | $53,804 |
| #150 | California College of the Arts | 14 | $53,909 | $49,414 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of California College of the Arts's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 8 in CA.
Best Programs at California College of the Arts
The highest-earning program at California College of the Arts is Architecture at $51,400/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Fine and Studio Arts at $16,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Architecture graduate from California College of the Arts earns $51,400, while a Fine and Studio Arts graduate earns $16,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Architecture graduates carry $42,250 in median debt vs. $27,375 for Fine and Studio Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $53,909/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | $51,400 | $51,400 | $42,250 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $38,100 | $38,100 | $27,437 |
| Graphic Communications | $27,800 | $27,800 | $27,000 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $16,800 | $16,800 | $27,375 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- San Francisco, CA
- Student Body
- 990 students
- Admission Rate
- 91%
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $53,909
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $49,414
- Median Student Debt
- $27,000