CalArts's tuition & fees has increased from $43,986 (2015) to $58,996 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 34.12% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $43,986 (year 2015) to $58,996 (year 2025).
CalArts's tuition increase rate is higher than the California's average increase rate of 14.58%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
Cost of Attendance (COA) Trends
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 23.84% from 2015 ($65,686).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, CalArts's COA is $81,346, which is increased by 5.22% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to CalArts's COA over the past 10 years.
Tuition & Fees Changes
The tuition & fees have increased 34.12% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $58,318. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at California Institute of the Arts over last the 10 years.
Books & Supplies Costs Changes
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,062, and it has decreased -57.52% from the year 2015 to 2025.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $2,500 | - |
|---|
| 2016-17 | $2,590 | 3.60% |
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| 2017-18 | $2,590 | |
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| 2018-19 | $2,590 | |
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| 2019-20 | $2,590 | |
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| 2020-21 | $1,000 | -61.39% |
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| 2021-22 | $2,500 | 150.00% |
|---|
| 2022-23 | $2,500 | |
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| 2023-24 | $938 | -62.48% |
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| 2024-25 | $1,062 | 13.22% |
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Living Costs Changes
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 11.14% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 17.78% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at California Institute of the Arts.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|
| 2015-16 | $19,200 | $23,200 | - |
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| 2016-17 | $18,563 | $23,200 | -3.32% |
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| 2017-18 | $18,957 | $23,200 | 2.12% |
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| 2018-19 | $19,269 | $23,200 | 1.65% |
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| 2019-20 | $19,924 | $23,400 | 3.40% |
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| 2020-21 | $20,465 | $23,656 | 2.72% |
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| 2021-22 | $19,961 | $23,826 | -2.46% |
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| 2022-23 | $21,154 | $26,308 | 5.98% |
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| 2023-24 | $19,646 | $27,645 | -7.13% |
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| 2024-25 | $21,288 | $29,805 | 8.36% |
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Compare Tuition Change to Similar Colleges
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between California Institute of the Arts and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate |
|---|
| California Institute of the Arts | $58,996 | $56,724 | 4.01% |
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|
| University of Southern California | $71,647 | $68,237 | 5.00% |
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|
| University of the People | $1,200 | $1,200 | - |
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|
| National University | $13,284 | $13,320 | -0.27% |
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| Stanford University | $65,910 | $62,484 | 5.48% |
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| California Baptist University | $41,228 | $39,720 | 3.80% |
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