Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks California Institute of the Arts #1475 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $35,455 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California Institute of the Arts in the 1.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks California Institute of the Arts #1473 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- California Institute of the Arts' composite ranking reflects its strengths in creative fields and its ability to support graduates into stable artistic careers. The institution's earnings-beyond-expectations performance underscores its capacity to deliver meaningful financial outcomes for students pursuing creative professions.
California Institute of the Arts is a specialized private institution in Valencia, California, focused on visual and performing arts education. California Institute of the Arts enrolls approximately 860 undergraduates and maintains a 82.4% freshman retention rate and 66.7% six-year graduation rate. Azimuth ranks California Institute of the Arts #1475 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's distinctive strength lies in return on investment for arts-focused study. Azimuth ranks California Institute of the Arts #1473 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $35,455 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California Institute of the Arts in the 1.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentrated focus on Visual & Performing Arts, where specialized training translates into career-ready outcomes across creative industries. Access and affordability represent the composite's lower-ranked pillars. California Institute of the Arts sits in the 38.6 percentile for access and the 1.5 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. As a specialized arts conservatory with selective admissions and higher tuition typical of private institutions, the school serves a narrower student population than broad-access universities. For students committed to visual and performing arts careers and able to manage the cost structure, California Institute of the Arts offers a focused educational environment paired with strong post-graduation earnings outcomes relative to peer arts institutions.
California Institute of the Arts' published cost of attendance is $77,560. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $26,686, middle-income families pay around $51,847, and higher-income families pay approximately $58,873. Azimuth ranks California Institute of the Arts #1404 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The lower affordability ranking reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, particularly relevant for students in visual and performing arts fields where early-career earnings may be modest or variable. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $60,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $35,256, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
California Institute of the Arts is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a private nonprofit college experience in Valencia, CA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $35,256, placing California Institute of the Arts in the 0.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $35,455 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California Institute of the Arts in the 1.8 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 24.2% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 15.7% are first-generation — and delivers low-income graduate earnings in the 69.8 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 32.3% admit rate makes the application process competitive, and the program mix favors creative fields over STEM or business-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with visual and performing arts will find the institution's outcomes among the strongest in the country for those disciplines.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the California Institute Of The Arts hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Design and Applied Arts
15 graduates
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
31 graduates
Music
39 graduates
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
21 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
17 graduates
California Institute of the Arts concentrates its program portfolio in visual and performing arts — a defining institutional signature that shapes both the student experience and career outcomes. Graphic Communications is the largest program with 54 graduates, followed by Music with 39 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,294, Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with 31 graduates earning $41,192, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 21 graduates earning $29,426, and Fine and Studio Arts with 17 graduates earning $28,617.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 194 students annually, the institution's earnings distribution reflects the creative-industries labor market where compensation varies widely by specialization and career trajectory. The highest-earning programs at California Institute of the Arts include Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with 31 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $41,192, Music with 39 graduates earning $40,294, Film/Video and Photographic Arts with 21 graduates earning $29,426, and Fine and Studio Arts with 17 graduates earning $28,617.
These programs represent the institution's strongest early-career earnings outcomes and reflect specializations where graduates move directly into creative and technical professional roles. Many of California Institute of the Arts's programs are pathway-dependent, where four-year earnings reflect early career positioning in creative fields but do not fully capture lifetime trajectory — particularly for graduates who transition into directing, producing, or independent creative practice over time.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-industries fields align with labor-market demand and career-longevity patterns. For students evaluating California Institute of the Arts, the earnings figures reflect entry-level and early-career compensation in creative sectors; long-term financial outcomes depend significantly on individual career choices, portfolio development, and market positioning within the creative industries.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
California Institute of the Arts' published cost of attendance is $77,560. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $26,686, middle-income families pay around $51,847, and higher-income families pay approximately $58,873.
Azimuth ranks California Institute of the Arts #1404 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The lower affordability ranking reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, particularly relevant for students in visual and performing arts fields where early-career earnings may be modest or variable.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $60,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $35,256, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of California Institute of the Arts earn median 4-year earnings of $35,256, placing California Institute of the Arts in the 0.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $35,455 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing California Institute of the Arts in the 1.8 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks California Institute of the Arts #1473 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects California Institute of the Arts's concentrated focus on visual and performing arts.
Graphic Communications is the largest program with 54 graduates, followed by Music with 39 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $40,294. The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program graduates 31 students with median 4-year earnings of $41,192, while Film/Video and Photographic Arts and Fine and Studio Arts round out the top programs with 21 and 17 graduates respectively.
These programs anchor the institution's distinctive labor-market positioning within the creative industries, where earnings trajectories diverge significantly from traditional academic fields.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Life Pacific University Higher acceptance rate (68 percentage points higher) and located 47 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 94% | $43,299 | Compare |
Providence Christian College Higher acceptance rate (66.6 percentage points higher) and located 30 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CA | 93% | $46,264 | Compare |
Maine College Of Art & Design Higher acceptance rate (51.6 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | ME | 78% | $40,778 | Compare |
Columbia College Chicago Higher acceptance rate (65.2 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | IL | 91% | $42,195 | Compare |
Laguna College Of Art And Design Same state (73 miles away) (earnings difference: 16.2%) and similar program focus; same institution type | CA | 78% | $47,867 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Maryland Institute College Of Art Similar quality tier (#36302 ranked) | MD | 77% | $45,212 | #36302 | Compare |
Manhattan School Of Music Similar quality tier (#36304 ranked) | NY | 41% | $26,878 | #36304 | Compare |
Beacon College Similar quality tier (#36297 ranked) | FL | 43% | $29,420 | #36297 | Compare |
Cornish College Of The Arts Similar quality tier in West (#36293 ranked) | WA | 62% | $33,696 | #36293 | Compare |
Toccoa Falls College Similar quality tier (#36291 ranked) | GA | 66% | $36,630 | #36291 | Compare |
