Through our commitment to a high level of service and support at California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), the Financial Aid Office provides financial assistance, resources, and information to all current and prospective students.

The mission of the Office of Financial Aid is to foster the educational goals of CalArts students by focusing on financial strategies that help promote access, affordability, and persistence toward completing their degree program as well as succeeding beyond our campus.

Financial Aid, as referred to in higher education, is a wide array of funding sources and types that are awarded to students for the purpose of assisting with costs associated with attending college. Sources of financial aid include, but are not limited to, private, institutional, state and federal.

Reminders & Updates

Office Closed on Monday, April 1

The CalArts Office of Financial Aid will be closed on Monday, April 1 in observance of Cesar Chavez Day.

2024-25 FAFSA Now Available

The opening of the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) was delayed this year, but the application is now fully available to all domestic students.  You can complete the 2024-25 FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Please note that with the multitude of changes that the Department of Education made to the FAFSA process for 2024-25, some students are currently encountering issues with completing the application. If you are encountering problems, you can click here to view a list of known issues, and possible workarounds to those issues.  You can also contact the Federal Student Aid Help Center via phone, email, or chat for additional support in resolving problems with completing your 2024-25 FAFSA.  

According to information received from the Department of Education on January 30, schools will not receive student FAFSAs until on or after March 15.  Our office will not be able to confirm that a student's FAFSA has been submitted to CalArts until that time.

Register for Financial Aid Webinars

The Office of Financial Aid is offering a series of webinars on topics such as FAFSA, searching for scholarships, and general financial aid for undergraduate and graduate students.  Please click here to view the webinar schedule and RSPV to any webinars of interest to you!

Financial Literacy Resources

The Office of Financial Aid is dedicated to helping our students learn more about finances to help students understand their personal finances and make informed decisions.  Please visit our Financial Literacy Resources page to access information and resources on budgeting, saving, credit and more financial literacy topics. 

You can also take a brief Financial Wellness survey to let us know what additional topics and resources are of interest to you.

Request an Appointment with the Office of Financial Aid

To request an in-person, phone, or zoom appointment with the Office Financial Aid, complete an Appointment Request Form.

Designate Student Information Access

Students can now designate one or more individuals as authorized parties to have access their FERPA protected information on Self-Service; this includes financial aid, student accounts and registration information.

To learn more and set up Proxy access please click here.

Welcome CalArts Parents and families, we are so excited to have your student join our diverse community of artists! Since we communicate directly with the student you are strongly encouraged to review the complete website to get all the facts regarding the application procedures, deadlines, grants, scholarships, loans and work programs that may be available to your student as a resource. If you want to inquire about specific information regarding your student’s financial assistance you must have confirmed access as a Proxy. Proxy access information and instructions can be found here. 

CalArts provides an estimated cost of education on an annual basis which breaks down the direct charges- such as tuition, fees and housing and food for students who live on campus and indirect charges. To view our estimated cost of attendance for the current academic year, please click here.

The Office of Financial Aid understands that the cost of education can be difficult to cover out of pocket. Parents of dependent undergraduate students, who complete a FAFSA for the academic year can apply for a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan to help brige the gap between the cost of attending CalArts and the financial aid the student is currently receiving. To learn more about eligibility, interest rates, repayment and the application process please see this link. Dependent Undergraduate students will have a Parent PLUS loan listed on their financial aid award letter, the amount listed is not the maximum that can be borrowed, parents can request up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid the student is receiving during the application process. The Office of Financial Aid believes in making fiscally responsible decisions and recommends that students and parents do not borrow more than they need for their education-related expenses. 

Other options for covering your student's balance include Monthly Payment Plans or Private Education Student Loans. 


If you have questions regarding payments or billing please contact the Bursar at accounting@calarts.edu or 661-253-7847.