California College of the Arts

Apply for first-year Apply for transfer

California College of the Arts

Apply for first-year Apply for transfer

California College of the Arts educates students to shape culture and society through the practice and critical study of art, architecture, design, and writing. Benefitting from its San Francisco Bay Area location, the college prepares students for lifelong creative work by cultivating innovation, community engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Graduates are highly sought after by companies such as Pixar/Disney, Apple, Intel, Meta, Gensler, Google, IDEO, Autodesk, Mattel, and Nike. Many alumni have launched their own successful businesses, and alumni work is featured in major collections such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, MoMA New York, Guggenheim Museum, Whitney Museum, SFMOMA, The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C., The Library of Congress, and Tate Modern in London.

Virtual Tour

Academic Programs

Architecture
Art & Design
Design
Visual Arts
Writing and Literature

Student experience

Co-op/Internship Opportunities
Disability Services
LGBTQIA Services
On-Campus Housing

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

First-year

First-year applicants must submit: an online application and nonrefundable application fee of $70; a personal essay; high school transcripts; a letter of recommendation; a portfolio of 10-15 pieces of work (via SlideRoom); proof of English proficiency. Application deadlines for merit scholarship consideration: November 15- Early action for Fall; February 1- Priority deadline for Fall first-year applications; October 1- Priority deadline for Spring first-year applications. CCA practices rolling admissions; applications can be submitted for review after the priority deadlines.

Transfer

To apply to CCA, transfer students must submit: an online application and nonrefundable application fee of $70; personal essay; high school transcripts; a letter of recommendation; a portfolio of 15-20 pieces of work (via SlideRoom); proof of English proficiency (if required). Application deadlines for merit scholarship consideration: March 1- Priority deadline for Fall transfer applications; October 1- Priority deadline for Spring transfer applications. CCA has no minimum credit requirements and you can transfer at any time; applications can be submitted for review after the priority deadlines.

Additional Information

With exciting internship opportunities, industry connections, and career development support, attending California College of the Arts is an investment in your future.

Visit us

CCA is creating a new campus experience by expanding its current San Francisco campus to include state-of-the-art teaching and learning facilities. The San Francisco campus is a residential community, with new student housing for up to 1,000 students. Together, the new academic building and current housing facilities will be a groundbreaking model of sustainable construction and practice at a college of art and design.

Take an in-person or virtual tour of our San Francisco campus here.

Students want to study here because they are attracted to the forward-thinking, innovative spirit that is distinct to the culture of the West Coast. They want to immerse themselves in an environment of pioneers and creative individuals. They want to be a part of the “next, next thing.”
Stephen Beal, President, California College of the Arts