Real Videos

$2,000 Scholarship

Take a Student-led Tour on CampusReel to Enter

California College of the Arts: 2024 Requirements, Scores & GPAs

This is the go-to guide for getting into California College of the Arts. We suggest you read until the end... Not only will we layout the exact GPA and test scores you should aim for when applying to California College of the Arts, but we’ll also offer creative ways to help your application stand out from the pack. We breakdown California College of the Arts statistics better than any article out there and show you how these have changed over time. Also, make sure to check out California College of the Arts on CampusReel to see what it’s really like here. If you're interesting in transferring to California College of the Arts, the read our transfer guide. You can also use the below calculator to help determine your likelihood of acceptance at California College of the Arts

California College of the Arts chances calculator

This free college chances tool calculates your acceptance chances at any other U.S. college

Please note all chances are estimates based on test score and GPA averages.

Your SAT Score
*optional
400
1600
my SAT
Your ACT Score
*optional
Select a Score
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36
  • Your GPA*
    on a 4.0 scale
    *or select a school below for a specific calculation
    Need chances at another college?

    What Is California College of the Arts’s Acceptance Rate?

    Last year California College of the Arts’s acceptance rate was 68.54. However, check out how the acceptance rate has changed over time.

    As you can see, California College of the Arts is a little easier to get into than last year.

    Acceptance rate alone does not indicate your likelihood for getting into California College of the Arts - it’s a very high level understanding of the true competition. Use the acceptance rate as a general guide for curating a list of 10-15 schools that fall into different ranges of competitiveness. Then, use the below data to get a deeper understanding of how your application will compare to the rest of the pool.

    2016 2017 2018
    Acceptance Rate N/A N/A 68.54 %
    Will You Get Into California College of the Arts?
    Calculate Your Chances

    Does California College of the Arts Require Test Scores?

    California College of the Arts requires that you either take the SAT or ACT. See the table below for how California College of the Arts’s accepted students have performed on both tests. You may be wondering how many test scores should you submit. Generally, don’t freak out about taking the test too often. Industry consensus is that you can submit up to 6 tests as a reasonable limit.

    California College of the Arts’s average SAT score is 1160 - this is the sum of the math and reading portions of the SAT (the 1600 scale). Check out the below table for a deeper look into how students performed - it’s also very interesting to look at the average test score over time. The trend over time helps give insight into whether California College of the Arts is getting more or less competitive.

    25th Percentile 75th Percentile Average
    Math 500 660 580
    Reading 510 650 580
    2019 Total 1010 1310 1160
    2018 Total - - -
    2017 Total - - -

    California College of the Arts’s average SAT score is 1160. To be a competitive applicant for California College of the Arts your SAT score should come close to the average. If you’re closer to the 1010, you’re likely going to have a tougher time getting accepted. To consider California College of the Arts a “target” school (one that you are likely to get into) you should aim for a score of 1310.

    Will You Get Into California College of the Arts?
    Calculate Your Chances

    Main Academic Excellence that is in line with California College of the Arts admission standards.

      1
    1. Score at least a 1160 on the SAT or - on the ACT.
    2. 2
    3. Maintain a GPA of at least a 3.29.

    Join Extracurriculars that Align with California College of the Arts’s Values.

      1
    1. Join your school band, a sports team or another group activity. If California College of the Arts values music heavily, for example, then try to participate in an organization related to that topic.
    2. 2
    3. Volunteer in your hometown. San Francisco has tons of ways to be involved beyond just the college. California College of the Arts wants applicants that are also good ambassadors for the school - they want students who will give back to the local community and broader San Francisco area in general.
    4. 3
    5. Spend your summer doing something that speaks to your values, personal growth, leadership qualities and other less quantifiable characteristics. California College of the Arts needs to see past your test scores and grades - they need to know that you will be a valuable and contributing member of their community. You are more than grades and test scores - your experiences should demonstrate that.

    Prepare Your Application

      1
    1. Write a stellar essay that shows California College of the Arts something they can’t figure out from the other parts of your application. For a detailed guide on writing the best college essay, check this out.
    2. 2
    3. Get teacher recs that speak to your character. If you know what you’re majoring in and include that in your California College of the Arts app, try to have at least 1 recommendation from a teacher in that department.
    4. 3
    5. Apply Before the Deadline. Too many students wait until the last minute to submit their application, and too much can go wrong during this precious time window. Since many students are applying on the last day, it’s possible that California College of the Arts’s own system crashes. Don’t risk the added stress this can cause - submit your app a few days early.