Ringling College of Art and Design vs California College of the Arts

Ringling College of Art and Design and California College of the Arts are two highly regarded institutions offering specialized programs in art and design. While both colleges share a commitment to artistic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. Ringling College boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process, while California College of the Arts offers a more diverse student body in terms of ethnicity and gender. Ringling College's popular majors include Illustration, Graphic Design, and Fine Arts, while California College of the Arts is known for its strengths in Animation, Photography, and Film/Video. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more, including graduation rates, tuition fees, and notable alumni. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
California College of the Arts logo

California College of the Arts

Ringling College of Art and Design logo

Ringling College of Art and Design

Overview

Location San Francisco, California Sarasota, Florida
Campus setting City: Large City: Small
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
Students retention rate 82.0% 83.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 77.6% 68.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
$70
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 2,847 2,117
Total number of admissions given out 2,210 1,455
Admitted students who chose to enroll 209 401
Yield rate 9.5% 27.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $73,634 $74,563
Average net price $40,231 $51,318
Tuition $51,792 $46,600
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $13,467

Meal plan: $5,650
Room/dormitory: $9,260

Meal plan: $6,740
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

84.0%
Average amount $28,928
97.0%
Average amount $15,756
Students receiving federal student loan 23.0%
Average amount $5,627
57.0%
Average amount $5,391
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $27,943
12.0%
Average amount $35,044

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,249
Men 36.3% Women 63.7%
1,663
Men 28.2% Women 71.8%
Graduate students 381
Men 29.9% Women 70.1%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 40.3% 20.9%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 761 1,272
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communications Technology
  • Architecture
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communications Technology
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 65.4% 80.5%
Dropout rate 34.2% 19.5%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,106
  • Year 2: $77,536
  • Year 3: $105,977
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,344
  • Year 2: $50,231
  • Year 3: $66,934
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,396
  • Year 2: $56,776
  • Year 3: $61,388
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,949
  • Year 2: $39,860
  • Year 3: $49,787
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,472
  • Year 2: $34,467
  • Year 3: $38,025
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,206
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $37,442
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $16,698
  • Year 2: $30,409
  • Year 3: $23,743
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,560
  • Year 2: $15,552
  • Year 3: $19,229
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $92,520
  • Year 2: $86,129
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $123,170
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,528
  • Year 2: $48,725
  • Year 3: $57,463
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,371
  • Year 2: $26,121
  • Year 3: $32,078
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,460
  • Year 2: $19,592
  • Year 3: $21,539
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,707
  • Year 2: $14,627
  • Year 3: N/A
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: N/A

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