California Institute of the Arts vs Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art are two prestigious institutions offering unique educational experiences in the arts. CalArts, located in Valencia, California, is known for its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary arts education, while Cooper Union, situated in New York City, focuses on art, architecture, and engineering. With acceptance rates of 29% and 10%, respectively, both schools are highly selective, attracting talented students from around the world. CalArts boasts a diverse student body, with 40% of its undergraduates identifying as students of color, while Cooper Union's student body is predominantly white (63%). Popular majors at CalArts include Film/Video, Music, and Theater, while Cooper Union is renowned for its programs in Architecture, Fine Arts, and Engineering. Both institutions offer excellent graduation rates, with CalArts reporting a 75% four-year graduation rate and Cooper Union achieving a 91% six-
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![]() California Institute of the Arts |
![]() Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art |
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Overview |
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Location | Valencia, California | New York, New York |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 94.0% | 91.0% |
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No | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 29.0% | 14.7% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$70
Graduate:
$70
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Undergraduate:
$75
Graduate:
$75
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SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 2,364 | 2,678 |
Total number of admissions given out | 685 | 393 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 203 | 210 |
Yield rate | 29.6% | 53.4% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $79,792 | $67,146 |
Average net price | $53,916 | $20,757 |
Tuition | $52,850 | $44,550 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$7,040
Meal plan:
$5,095
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
99.0%
Average amount $18,119 |
100.0%
Average amount $38,212 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
26.0%
Average amount $5,615 |
20.0%
Average amount $4,814 |
Students taking out private loans |
1.0%
Average amount $12,000 |
1.0%
Average amount $24,000 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
965
Men 41.6% Women 58.4% |
876
Men 53.2% Women 46.8% |
Graduate students |
479
Men 37.2% Women 62.8% |
60
Men 80.0% Women 20.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 36.5% |
International students | 29.0% | 14.6% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 441 | 170 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | N/A | New York New Jersey California Florida Texas |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 7:1 | 9:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 71.9% | 83.4% |
Dropout rate | 28.1% | 11.8% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Music (Master's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
Dance (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
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Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Astronomy and Astrophysics (Bachelor's Degrees)
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