Application Requirements
A complete CCA application includes five requirements:
- Application and fee
- Personal essay
- Transcripts
- Two letters of recommendations
- Portfolio
CCA recommends you participate in interviews, or National Portfolio Days, as well as the submission of your SAT, ACT, or AP test scores for placement exam waivers.
International applicants have additional requirements. See International Applicants.
Application and Fee
An application form is included in the printed catalog. You may also apply online.
You must submit the completed application and the nonrefundable $50 application fee to the Enrollment Services Office.
CCA honors the College Board Application Fee Waiver Form.
Personal Essay
A one- to two-page essay must accompany the application. The essay is considered part of your portfolio. It allows us to learn more about you and is your opportunity to help us complete the picture of you, in addition to your grades, portfolio, test scores, and recommendations.
Your essay should address the major influences on your decision to pursue art, architecture, design, or writing, and may include one of the following additional topics:
- Describe a personal hardship or barrier that you have had to overcome and explain how it has affected your education or academic performance.
- Based on your life experience, describe your understanding of cultural differences, how this understanding was acquired, and how it has affected you.
- Artists often work on projects that involve, reflect, or influence their community. Tell us about a project you have been involved with that has made a difference to your community.
Transcripts
You must submit an official transcript from your high school showing proof of graduation or a General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Official, sealed transcripts from your high school must be sent from the school directly to the Enrollment Services Office.
If you have attended college and received college credit while in high school, please submit official transcripts from the college(s) attended.
All transcripts must be in English or accompanied by a certified English translation of the original.
Home-schooled applicants should submit detailed syllabi of courses (equivalent to grades 10–12) and details of curriculum you are pursuing through any public or private agency (including community college transcripts, if applicable).
Two Letters of Recommendation
Please use the Recommendation Form (PDF). Two letters of recommendation from current or recent instructors or school counselors must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Office. If you do not have access to instructors, you may include letters from employers or other professional references.
The letters should be sent in sealed envelopes directly to CCA or mailed with your application.
Portfolio
A portfolio representing your art experience must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Office. The portfolio consists of your artwork and a personal essay. The portfolio allows the admissions committee to gain an understanding of your interests, experience, and creative potential.
CCA recognizes that students enter college with diverse artistic backgrounds; therefore, portfolios are evaluated on an individual basis, keeping in mind the specific educational background and experiences of each applicant.
See Portfolio Preparation for more information.
Interview
While an interview is not required, prospective students are invited to meet with an admissions representative at National Portfolio Days, college-sponsored events, or a scheduled appointment on either campus throughout the year.
Test Scores
SAT I or ACT scores are highly recommended for first-year students only. You may also submit your AP and IB exam scores. SAT, ACT, AP, and IB exam scores may be used in waiving placement exams upon entering CCA.
See Transfer Credit for more information.
Application Deadlines
February 1
Fall Priority Deadlines for Scholarship Consideration
March 1
Fall Priority Deadline
July 15
Fall Deadline for International Applicants
October 1
Spring Priority Deadline
Contact Us
Phone: 800.447.1ART
Email: enroll@cca.edu
Mailing Address: Enrollment Services Office, California College of the Arts, 1111 Eighth Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-2247