California Institute of the Arts

About California Institute of the Arts

CalArts is an independent, accredited higher-education institution rather than a department, conservatory within another university, or non-degree training provider. WSCUC identifies the Valencia location as an active main campus, lists the institution as nonprofit with no related sponsoring entity, and records programs at bachelor’s, master’s, and professional-doctorate levels. Its current accreditation status is Accredited, with the most recent commission action dated June 28, 2024. The institution was formed in 1961 when Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music merged under the guidance of Walt and Roy Disney. CalArts began teaching in 1970 at a temporary Burbank site before moving to its permanent Valencia campus. That history helps explain its multidisciplinary structure: visual and performing arts were deliberately brought into one institution rather than separated into unrelated schools. Today, CalArts organizes degree study through six schools: Art, Critical Studies, Dance, Film/Video, Music, and Theater. This is a highly specialized academic environment, not a comprehensive university with the conventional range of business, engineering, health, or natural-science majors. The broad program list stored in the database should therefore not be used as a description of CalArts offerings. A prospective student’s experience will depend strongly on the chosen artistic program, faculty review practices, production demands, and access to discipline-specific facilities. The shared campus can support collaboration across fields, but applicants should compare the exact program structure and artistic approach rather than treating all CalArts degrees as interchangeable.

CalArts requires applicants to choose a specific program; it does not offer a general admission route or foundation year. As of August 20, 2026, the official application guide says the next full-time entry opportunities are Spring 2027 for selected programs and Fall 2027 more broadly. Applicants should use the current deadlines-and-fees page for their intended program because availability and requirements differ, and no universal deadline should be inferred. The application includes academic records and program-specific creative material. Depending on the field, this may involve a portfolio, audition, writing sample, artist statement, or a combination. Applicants upload unofficial transcripts and request recommendation letters through the application process. CalArts states that the SAT, ACT, and GRE are not required. Faculty in the relevant program evaluate artistic admission using the creative submission, statement, and recommendations, while the admissions office reviews academic preparation and applicable English-language evidence. Graduate prerequisites also vary by degree. MFA and MA applicants generally need an undergraduate degree, while DMA applicants need an appropriate master’s degree or equivalent preparation. International applicants whose prior education does not establish the applicable English-language exemption must submit an accepted proficiency test by the regular deadline. The published minimums are TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.5, PTE 53, or Duolingo 105 for BFA admission, and TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7, PTE 63, or Duolingo 120 for MA, MFA, and DMA admission. Applicants should prepare creative work early and follow the instructions for the exact program and degree level. Materials cannot simply be assumed transferable between programs, and applying to two programs requires two applications and two fees.

CalArts concentrates on the visual, performing, media, and literary arts. Current offerings include undergraduate and graduate routes in areas such as acting, art, experimental animation, film and video, graphic design, instrumental arts, photography and media, and performer-composer studies. Other programs are available at only one level: Character Animation and Creative Computing are listed as BFA programs, while Art and Technology, Choreography, Creative Writing, Film Directing, and several theater design and production fields are graduate offerings. The School of Critical Studies also offers the MA in Aesthetics and Politics. Degree structures differ by level. The institutional catalog states that a BFA ordinarily requires at least four years and 120 units. MFA study generally requires two or three years, while the MA in Aesthetics and Politics combines one full-time year with a second low-residency year. The Performer-Composer DMA normally requires three years in residence. These formats mean that students should examine both total time and residency expectations, not just annual tuition. BFA students complete general education through the School of Critical Studies alongside their artistic curriculum. CalArts also describes minors and interdisciplinary options, including an Arts Education minor for BFA students, an Arts Education concentration for MFA students, and approved InterSchool degree arrangements spanning two schools. Integrated Media is available as a supplemental concentration through participating MFA programs rather than as a stand-alone entry degree. The educational emphasis is practice-intensive and program-specific. Studios, rehearsal rooms, performance spaces, production shops, editing facilities, recording resources, galleries, and critical-studies coursework support different kinds of work. Applicants should consult the current program page and catalog because requirements, reviews, course sequences, and available interdisciplinary options vary substantially by school and degree.

Key Highlights

• WSCUC lists CalArts as an active, accredited nonprofit main-campus institution.
• CalArts was formed in 1961 through the merger of Chouinard Art Institute and the Los Angeles Conservatory of Music.
• Six schools cover art, critical studies, dance, film and video, music, and theater.
• The institution awards BFA, MA, MFA, and DMA degrees.

Student Life & Environment

Campus life is centered on a five-level Main Building that brings the six schools into one shared complex. It contains classrooms and art, animation, music, and dance studios as well as galleries, theaters, a music hall, production shops, photography and media labs, editing suites, a digital recording studio, the library, and dining spaces. This layout makes informal contact across artistic disciplines a regular part of campus life, although access to particular spaces and equipment may depend on program rules and training. CalArts has two adjacent residence facilities. Chouinard Hall primarily houses undergraduate students in double and triple rooms, with singles reserved for approved accommodations. Ahmanson Hall provides shared apartment suites for third- and fourth-year undergraduates and graduate students. All registered students may apply, but the housing page promises accommodation only for as many applicants as capacity permits. Gender-inclusive housing can be requested in either building. Student participation includes a Student Union with a role in institutional shared governance and student-run affinity and interest groups. Current examples span cultural and identity-based associations, open drawing, soccer, dance, film-processing, literary publishing, themed entertainment, music, yoga, and zine-making. Recreational facilities include tennis and basketball courts, an outdoor pool, and fitness spaces. Students also have access to health and well-being services, counseling, disability services, international-student support, and a campus safety operation. Prospective residents should confirm current housing availability, application dates, meal-plan obligations, and accessibility arrangements directly with Residence Life.

Location & Surroundings

CalArts is located at 24700 McBean Parkway in Valencia, within the City of Santa Clarita and north of central Los Angeles. The setting is suburban rather than an urban arts district. Daily life can therefore be campus-centered, particularly for residents, while off-campus students should investigate travel times, parking, and transportation before choosing housing. The location offers a practical connection to the wider Los Angeles arts and entertainment ecosystem. CalArts describes classes taking field trips into Los Angeles and students performing or presenting work at venues across the city. The region provides access to museums, galleries, film and animation studios, theaters, music venues, recording facilities, bookshops, and arts organizations. That access can be valuable for research, internships, networking, and seeing professional work, but proximity should not be interpreted as effortless travel: Los Angeles-area distances and traffic can make transportation planning important. The Valencia campus itself places academic facilities, recreation, and two residence halls close together. Students considering off-campus accommodation can also search in Valencia and the broader Santa Clarita Valley. International students and those arriving without a car should review current transit guidance and the practical route to their program’s off-campus activities before committing.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, full-time BFA, MFA, and DMA tuition is $62,954, plus $730 in standard student-life and technology fees. The first-year full-time MA in Aesthetics and Politics costs $50,407 in tuition, while its second low-residency year costs $25,207. CalArts states that tuition normally increases annually, so later entrants should not use these figures as forecasts. The official undergraduate cost-of-attendance estimate is $90,455 for a student living on campus, including $81,394 in estimated billable tuition, fees, housing, and food and $9,061 in indirect expenses. This standardized budget uses a double room and a federally influenced food allowance; it is not necessarily the student’s exact bill. Published 2026–27 housing charges range from $6,254 for a Chouinard triple to $12,108 for an approved Chouinard single. An Ahmanson shared-suite bedroom costs $10,616. Chouinard residents must carry at least the ten-meal-per-week plan. Health insurance is also required unless approved coverage permits a waiver. Students should compare aid offers using net cost rather than sticker price and distinguish billed charges from estimates for books, transport, and personal spending. Career support is provided through the Patty Disney Center for Life and Work. Services include individual advising, workshops, networking events, a job board, an incubator program, grants, an annual career event, and internships. Eligible students can pursue academic credit for field-related internships subject to hour, faculty-approval, and documentation requirements. The institution names recent recruiters and internship hosts across independent arts organizations, nonprofits, entertainment companies, and technology firms, but this does not guarantee placement. No verified salary or graduate-employment rate was found, so career evaluation should focus on program-specific portfolios, professional networks, internships, and alumni outcomes requested directly from the school.