2024-2025 Annual Tuition

Degree Program Per Semester Full Year
Full-Time Undergraduate (BFA & Certificate), Graduate (MFA & Advanced Certificate), and Doctoral (DMA) programs $29,159 $58,318
Full-Time MA Aesthetics and Politics program (1st year only) $23,347 $46,694
Low-Residency MA Aesthetics and Politics program (2nd year only) $11,674 $23,347

All CalArts tuition rates increase annually. The annual increase is typically 4%-5%, including for the second, low-residency year of the MA program.

View 2024-2025 Tuition and Fees Deadlines

2024-2025 Annual Fees

Fee Type Per Semester Full Year
Student Activity/Student Life Fee $65 $130
Technology Fee $274 $548

2024-2025 On-Campus Housing Fees

Chouinard Hall (undergraduate only) Per Semester Full Year
Single Occupancy (Approved accommodations only) $5,608 $11,216
Double Occupancy $3,846 $7,692
Triple Occupancy $2,897 $5,794

All residents of Chouinard Hall are required to enroll in the 10-meal per week plan at a minimum, and this cost will be reflected on the student’s bill. Students may choose to upgrade to a 14, 17 or block meal plan during registration each semester.

Ahmanson Hall (graduate only) Per Semester Full Year
Private Bedroom in a Shared Apartment Suite $4,917 $9,834

2024-2025 Meal Plans

Meal plans offered by Bon Appétit fall semester spring semester annual cost
5 meals per week + $50/$60 flex $932 $1,177 $2,109
10 meals per week + $150/$170 Flex $1,886 $2,330 $4,216
14 meals per week + $150/$170 Flex $2,525 $3,115 $5,640
17 meals per week + $100/$100 Flex $2,879 $3,563 $6,442
140 Block Meal Plan + $150 Flex per week (allows access to 140 meals at any time during the semester) $2,279 $2,279 $4,558

Meals can be redeemed during regular meal times at CalArts main cafeteria (Steve’s Café). Flex dollars can be used like a bank debit card to purchase snacks, drinks or meals in either Steve’s Café or in Tatum Lounge.

2024-2025 Health Insurance Fees

Fee Type Fall Semester Spring Semester Full Year
Administered by Academic Health Plans underwritten by UnitedHealthCare Student Resources $889 $1,769 $2,658

All CalArts students will be automatically enrolled in the CalArts health insurance plan. This cost will be reflected on the student’s bill each semester.

Students already covered by another health insurance provider may complete an insurance waiver. See the Health Insurance page for additional details.

Estimated Cost of Education

Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of students’ educational expenses for the period of enrollment, as determined by the school. The cost of attendance is determined by your living arrangement, you are assigned a COA based on whether you live on campus, off campus or at home (with a parent) and your academic level. The COA includes many aspects of the cost of attending CalArts, such as tuition, fees and housing and food. The COA sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive for a given academic year.

  • Billable (Direct) Costs – Direct costs are the actual charges that a student is billed by the CalArts accounting department, this includes tuition, fees and housing and food if the student is living on campus.

  • Estimated (Indirect) Costs – Indirect costs are other estimated auxiliary costs associated with attending CalArts. These are not specific amounts that a student must pay, but are used to help students estimate a total cost of attendance for a year of enrollment at CalArts. Indirect costs include transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses, books and supplies, housing and food expenses if the student is not living on campus

2024-25 On-Campus Cost of Attendance - Undergraduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $29,159 $29,159 $58,318
Fees $339 $339 $678
Housing $4,949 $4,949 $9,898
Food $4,495 $4,496 $8,991
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $38,942 $38,943 $77,885
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Books/Supplies $531 $531 $1,062
Transportation $616 $617 $1,233
Personal Expenses $1,606 $1,607 $3,213
Medical  $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $25 $25 $50
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $3,667 $4,549 $8,216
Cost of Attendance Total $42,609  $43,492 $86,101

 

2024-25 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance - Undergraduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $29,159 $29,159 $58,318
Fees $339 $339 $678
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $29,498 $29,498 $58,996
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Housing $7,000 $7,000 $14,000
Food $3,250 $3,250 $6,500
Books/Supplies $531 $531 $1,062
Transportation $981 $981 $1,962
Personal Expenses $2,317 $2,318 $4,635
Medical $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $25 $25 $50
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $14,993 $15,874 $30,867
Cost of Attendance Total $44,491 $45,372 $89,863

 

2024-25 Off-Campus (With Parents) Cost of Attendance - Undergraduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $29,159 $29,159 $58,318
Fees $339 $339 $678
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $29,498 $29,498 $58,996
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses  Fall Spring Total
Housing and Food $4,500 $4,500 $9,000
Books/Supplies $531 $531 $1,062
Transportation $895 $896 $1,791
Personal Expenses $2,029 $2,030 $4,059
Medical $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $25 $25 $50
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $8,869 $9,751 $18,620
Cost of Attendance Total $38,367 $39,249 $77,616

2024-25 On-Campus Cost of Attendance - Graduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $29,159 $29,159 $58,318
Fees $339 $339 $678
Housing $5,500 $5,500 $11,000
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $34,998 $34,998 $69,996
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Food $4,495 $4,496 $8,991
Books/Supplies $531 $531 $1,062
Transportation $616 $617 $1,233
Personal Expenses $1,606 $1,607 $3,213
Medical  $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $100 $100 $200
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $8,237 $9,120 $17,357
Cost of Attendance Total $43,235 $44,118 $87,353

 

2024-25 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance - Graduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $29,159 $29,159 $58,318
Fees $339 $339 $678
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $29,498 $29,498 $58,996
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Housing $7,000 $7,000 $14,000
Food $3,250 $3,250 $6,500
Books/Supplies $531 $531 $1,062
Transportation $981 $981 $1,962
Personal Expenses $2,317 $2,318 $4,635
Medical $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $100 $100 $200
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $15,068 $15,949 $31,017
Cost of Attendance Total $44,566 $45,447 $90,013

 

2024-25 On-Campus Cost of Attendance – MA 1st Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $23,347 $23,347 $46,694
Fees $339 $339 $678
Housing $5,500 $5,500 $11,000
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $29,186 $29,186 $58,372
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Food $4,495 $4,496 $8,991
Books/Supplies $531 $531 $1,062
Transportation $616 $617 $1,233
Personal Expenses $1,606 $1,607 $3,213
Medical  $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $100 $100 $200
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $8,237 $9,120 $17,357
Cost of Attendance Total $37,423 $38,306 $75,729

 

2024-25 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance – MA 1st Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $23,347 $23,347 $46,694
Fees $339 $339 $678
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $23,686 $23,686 $47,372
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Housing $7,000 $7,000 $14,000
Food $3,250 $3,250 $6,500
Books/Supplies $531 $531 $1,062
Transportation $981 $981 $1,962
Personal Expenses $2,317 $2,318 $4,635
Medical $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $100 $100 $200
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $15,068 $15,949 $31,017
Cost of Attendance Total $38,754 $39,635 $78,389

2024-25 On-Campus Cost of Attendance – MA 2nd Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $11,674 $11,674 $23,347
Fees $339 $339 $678
Housing $5,500 $5,500 $11,000
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $17,513 $17,513 $35,025
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Food $4,495 $4,496 $8,991
Books/Supplies $265 $266 $531
Transportation $466 $467 $933
Personal Expenses $1,356 $1,356 $2,713
Medical  $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $100 $100 $200
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $7,571 $8,455 $16,026
Cost of Attendance Total $25,084  $25,968  $51,051 

 

2024-25 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance – MA 2nd Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $11,674 $11,674 $23,347
Fees $339 $339 $678
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $12,013 $12,013 $24,025
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Housing $7,000 $7,000 $14,000
Food $3,250 $3,250 $6,500
Books/Supplies $265 $266 $531
Transportation $881 $881 $1,762
Personal Expenses $2,067 $2,068 $4,135
Medical $889 $1,769 $2,658
Loan Fees $100 $100 $200
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $14,452 $15,334 $29,786
Cost of Attendance Total $26,465  $27,347  $53,811