San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) vs California Institute of the Arts

San Francisco Conservatory of Music and California Institute of the Arts, two esteemed institutions renowned for their arts education, offer distinct experiences for aspiring artists. While both share a commitment to artistic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. San Francisco Conservatory of Music, known for its rigorous classical music training, boasts a highly selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 33%, while California Institute of the Arts, embracing a broader range of artistic disciplines, maintains a more accessible acceptance rate of 56%. In terms of student demographics, San Francisco Conservatory of Music's student body comprises 58% female and 42% male students, while California Institute of the Arts fosters a more balanced gender ratio with 49% female and 51% male students. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details regarding popular majors, graduation rates, and other factors that set these institutions apart, aiding you in making an informed decision that aligns with your artistic aspirations and academic goals.
California Institute of the Arts logo

California Institute of the Arts

San Francisco Conservatory of Music logo

San Francisco Conservatory of Music

Overview

Location Valencia, California San Francisco, California
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%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 29.0% 46.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $70
Undergraduate: $110

Graduate: $110
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 2,364 422
Total number of admissions given out 685 196
Admitted students who chose to enroll 203 49
Yield rate 29.6% 25.0%
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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $79,792 $75,075
Average net price $53,916 $43,036
Tuition $52,850 $49,300
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,040

Meal plan: $5,095
Room/dormitory: $13,700

Meal plan: $6,000
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 $26,525
Students receiving federal student loan 26.0%
Average amount $5,615
35.0%
Average amount $5,663
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $12,000
5.0%
Average amount $32,375

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 965
Men 41.6% Women 58.4%
228
Men 59.2% Women 40.8%
Graduate students 479
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
214
Men 41.1% Women 58.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 29.0% 32.8%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 441 405
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
  • English Language and Literature
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 7:1 3:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 71.9% 70.6%
Dropout rate 28.1% 29.4%
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
Music (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,970
  • Year 2: $26,585
  • Year 3: $28,747
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $15,922
  • Year 3: $18,693

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