California Institute of the Arts vs Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) stand as two distinct beacons of higher education, each offering a unique blend of academic rigor and creative expression. CalArts, nestled in the heart of Southern California, is renowned for its exceptional programs in the arts, while MIT, situated in the vibrant city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, is celebrated for its unparalleled prowess in science and technology. With acceptance rates of 33% and 7%, respectively, these institutions attract a diverse pool of talented students seeking to push the boundaries of their chosen fields. While CalArts boasts a student body predominantly composed of aspiring artists, MIT's student population is largely comprised of those pursuing careers in STEM-related disciplines. As you explore the comprehensive comparison table provided, delve into the nuances that set these two esteemed institutions apart, and discover which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal goals.

	California Institute of the Arts	Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Overview
Location	Valencia, California	Cambridge, Massachusetts
Campus setting	Suburb: Large	City: Midsize
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	4-1-4
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	94.0%	99.0%
Common app member	No	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	29.0%	4.1%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $70 Graduate: $70	Undergraduate: $75 Graduate: $75
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	33,240
Total number of admissions given out	685	1,365
Admitted students who chose to enroll	203	1,177
Yield rate	29.6%	86.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Not required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$79,792	$58,920
Average net price	$53,916	$30,958
Tuition	$52,850	$55,510
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $7,040 Meal plan: $5,095	Room/dormitory: $11,550 Meal plan: $6,550
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	99.0% Average amount $18,119	100.0% Average amount $32,562
Students receiving federal student loan	26.0% Average amount $5,615	6.0% Average amount $5,112
Students taking out private loans	1.0% Average amount $12,000	1.0% Average amount $17,891

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	965 Men 41.6% Women 58.4%	4,638 Men 51.9% Women 48.1%
Graduate students	479 Men 37.2% Women 62.8%	7,296 Men 62.0% Women 38.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	29.0%	29.2%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Large	City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity	441	6,280
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	California Texas New York Florida New Jersey

Academics
Popular study areas	Visual & Performing Arts Communications Technology English Language and Literature Computer and Information Science Multidisciplinary Studies	Engineering Business Computer and Information Science Architecture Mathematics and Statistics
Students to faculty ratio	7:1	3:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	71.9%	96.2%
Dropout rate	28.1%	3.0%
Transferred out	N/A	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $24,469 Year 2: $32,563 Year 3: $36,735 Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $14,239 Year 2: $23,456 Year 3: $29,527 Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: N/A Year 3: $29,030 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,555 Year 2: $22,420 Year 3: $28,984 Music (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $17,629 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $28,791 Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $22,992 Year 2: $20,140 Year 3: $22,579 Music (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $15,918 Year 2: $20,140 Year 3: $21,662 Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $26,425 Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: $21,635 Dance (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $22,773 Year 2: $15,182 Year 3: N/A Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $49,840 Year 3: N/A	Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $144,716 Year 2: $150,045 Year 3: $183,153 Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $170,089 Year 2: $165,236 Year 3: $182,183 Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $118,191 Year 2: $127,993 Year 3: $163,496 Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $82,796 Year 2: $117,572 Year 3: $155,540 Systems Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $133,685 Year 2: $137,214 Year 3: $155,079 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $104,229 Year 2: $121,226 Year 3: $139,548 Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: $141,603 Year 2: $126,504 Year 3: $132,987 Mechanical Engineering (Doctoral Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $112,885 Year 3: $124,425 Mechanical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $135,266 Year 2: $111,435 Year 3: $112,404 Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $109,955 Year 2: $104,749 Year 3: $109,672

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California Institute of the Arts

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