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California Institute of the Arts Courses & Fees 2025

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  • Estd. 1961
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International students can apply for California Institute of the Arts admission 2025 in the Fall intake through the official website. They must complete the application by the deadline to study undergraduate and graduate courses. The California Institute of the Arts admission deadline for Fall 2026 is Jan 05, 2026.

California Institute of the Arts Courses and Fees 2025

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Courses1st Year Tuition FeesDuration & Eligibility
MFA(1 course)
Duration2 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 100 & Above, PTE: 63 & Above
M.A.(2 courses)
INR 40 L - 50 LGet Fee Details
Duration1 year-2 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 7 & Above, TOEFL: 100 & Above, PTE: 63 & Above
BFA(1 course)
Duration4 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 53 & Above
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Commonly asked questions
On Fees and Eligibility
Q:   Is it hard to get into California Institute of the Arts?
A: 

The California Institute of the Arts is one of the most prestigious institutions for arts and design in the United States. CalArts attracts hundreds of thousands of students every year from across the United States and around the world. As per the US News and World Report, California Institute of the Arts acceptance rate is 29%. This shows that CalArts is highly selective for admissions. Please note that, the data on the acceptance rate mentioned above is taken from an unofficial source, therefore, it is subject to vary.  

Q:   What is the application deadline for CalArts?
A: 

The California Institute of the Arts takes admissions in two intakes the Fall season and the Spring season. The applications for the Fall 2024 are now closed. Application dates for the upcoming Spring season are yet to be released by CalArts. The last date to apply for the Fall 2024 was Jan 5, 2024. However, for certain programs CalArts is still accepting applications. The California Institute of the Arts takes admissions on rolling basis untill all the seats are filled. Therefore, international students should check the university's website for admission deadlines for their program. 

Q:   How to get into California Institute of the Arts?
A: 

The California Institute of the Arts offers many courses at the undergradaute and postgraduate levels. To get into CalArts international students need to meet the minimum eligibility for their program. The minimum admission requirements at California Institute of the Arts vary from course to course. Therefore, international students should check the minimum admission requirements before applying at CalArts. Check below the general admission requirements for international students

  • Upload portfolio/plan your audition
  • Academic transcripts showing all academic work
  • Two letters of recommendations
  • SAT/GRE
  • English target="_blank" rel="noopener">ACT
  • GRE
  • English language proficiency test

 

Q:   What are the English language requirements for international students at California Institute of the Arts?
A: 

The language of instruction at the California Institute of the Arts is English. Therefore, international applicants with a native language other than English are required to demonstrate their proficiency in the English language. The minimum English language requirement at CalArts vary from program. Check below the minimum English language requirement for international students

ExamMinimum Score (for BFA)Minimum Score (for MA, MFA, DMA)
TOEFL80100
TOEFL80100
PTE 5363
DET105120

  

Q:   What does California Institute of the Arts specialize in?
A: 

California Institute of the Arts offers various programs in the field of arts and design. CalArts offers more than 70 comprehensive degree programs through its six academic schools. California Institute of the Arts specializes in visual, permofring, media and literary arts. Six academic schools of CalArts are; the School of Arts, the School of Critical Studies, the School of Dance, the School of Film/Video, the School of Music and the School of Theater. 

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California Institute of the Arts Fee Breakdown 2025

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Commonly asked questions
On Fees Breakdown
Q:   How much does the California Institute of the Arts cost for international students?
A: 

The California Institute of the Arts costs vary by tuition fees and living expenses for international students. The estimated cost of attendance is an estimate of a student's educational expenses for the period of enrollment at the institute. Check below the estimated cost of attendance at the institute:

  • Undergraduate living on campus cost of attendance 2025-2026 - USD 89,562 or INR 77.83 L (Spring and Fall)
  • Undergraduate living off campus cost of attendance 2025-2026 - USD 1,02,901 or INR 89.42 L (Spring and Fall)
  • Graduate living on campus cost of attendance 2025-2026 - USD 88,386 or INR 76.80 L (Spring and Fall)
  • Graduate living off campus cost of attendance 2025-2026 - USD 93,074 or INR 80.88 L (Spring and Fall)

Check the California Institute of the Arts Cost of Attendance in detail

Q:   What are the fees for an MFA at the California Institute of the Arts?
A: 

California Institute of the Arts MFA fees is INR 47 L for first-year. CalArts School of Art offers Master in Fine Arts degree programme and the duration of the course is 2 years. The table below includes complete first-year cost of studing MFA at the institute with other expenses:

Fees componentsAmount (for 1 year)
Tuition & feesINR 47,41,179
Hostel & MealsINR 12,58,015
InsuranceINR 2,41,675
TransportationINR 1,74,180
Total approximate feesINR 64,15,049
Q:   What is the ranking of the California Institute of arts?
A: 

California Institute of Arts ranking is #51 in the world for MFA by QS in 2024 and #15 in the USA by Shiksha Popularity Ranking in 2025. As per the QS, California Institute of the Arts ranks at #23 in 2024 for its Art & Design courses. In 2023, this ranking stood at #24. Also, for QS Pharmacy & Pharmacology raking category, California Institute of the Arts ranks at #51 position in 2024.

Q:   How much is the CalArts application fee?
A: 

International students can apply online to various courses at the California Institute of the Arts. International students applying online may submit the application fee with a credit card or send a check/money order. International applications received without application fees will not be processed or reviewed by the California Institute of the Arts. Check below the application fees at CalArts

DeadlineApplication Fees
Preferred Deadline of Dec 1, 2023USD 65
Regular Deadline of Jan 5, 2024USD 85
Q:   What is the tuition fee for the California Institute of the Arts per year?
A: 

California Institute of the Arts tuition fees vary from INR 41 L to INR 51 L for the first year. The institute offers affordable undergraduate and graduate programs across visual, performing, media, and literary arts through its six schools. The table below includes the California Institute of the Arts fees in Indian rupees:

Courses

1st Year Tuition Fees

MFA

INR 47 L

MA

INR 41 L - 51 L

BFA

INR 51 L

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CalArts

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered 3 months ago

California Institute of the Arts offers a variety of scholarships options for international students. CalArts scholarships are available for students based on their eligibility. Mentioned below are some popular California Institute of the Arts scholarships for international students:

  • Merit scholarshi

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Chandra Shekhar

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 months ago

California Institute of the Arts BFA is a 4 year bachelor's degree available for international students. The tuition fees of the course at the institute is INR 51 L for first-year. School of Art at CalArts offers Bachelor in Fine Arts and applicants need to meet the entry requirements to study the c

...Read more

S

Shiksha Jain

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 months ago

California Institute of the Arts ranks under the top 100 MFA universities in the world by QS in 2024 and #15 in the USA by Shiksha Popularity Ranking. Therefore, it's a good choice to study MFA in USA at the institute for international students. Mentioned below are the general entry requirements for

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Piyush Kaur

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 months ago

Mentioned below are the California Institute of the Arts requirements for BFA admission:

  • Complete high school level degree.
  • Meet the English language requirements.
  • The SAT or ACT is optional as a part of your application.
  • Submit two letters of recommendation
  • A 30-to 90-second video introduction

Check belo

...Read more

S

Saakshi Majumder

Contributor-Level 7

Answered 3 months ago

Mentioned below are the California Institute of the Arts admission requirements for international students:

UG Admission requirements:

  • Complete a three-year bachelor's degree.
  • A bachelor's degree from university accredited by the NAAC with a grade of “A”.
  • Meet the English language requirements.
  • GRE is op

...Read more

N

Neha Karan

Contributor-Level 7

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Akansha katariya

Study Abroad Expert

Akansha katariya is a content creator at shiksha.com, creating content for study abroad. Having pursued B tech. in Electronics and communication from RGPV University, she has been creating content across diverse domains. When not guiding students, sh...Read Full Bio
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CalArts
Location

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University CityLos Angeles, California, USA
Size of cityLarge
Population of City39,99,759

CalArts
Contact Information

Address

24700 McBean Pkwy, Valencia, CA 91355, United States
Los Angeles ( California)

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