Apply to California College of the Arts

Here’s how to apply for admission to the best value art and design school in the country.

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Undergraduate

Start the admissions process

Three students gather around a table working on a binding project.

Two ways to submit your application

CCA practices rolling admissions, which means applications can be submitted for review after the priority deadlines listed below; however, if you wish to be considered for merit and the Visionary Practice scholarships, you should apply by the priority deadline appropriate to you. Need-based scholarships will continue to be awarded to qualified applicants who submit a late application.

Submit your application through

Fall 2026 enrollment timeline

Sep 01

Undergraduate application available

Apply for admission to CCA for spring 2026 or fall 2026 terms.

Nov 15

First-year fall early action deadline

First-year applicants must submit an application by this deadline for an early response from CCA. Applications received by this date will automatically be considered for merit scholarships.

Feb 01

First-year fall priority deadline

First-year applicants must submit an application by this deadline to guarantee merit scholarship consideration, including eligibility for Visionary Practice Scholarships.

Mar 01

Transfer fall priority deadline

Transfer applicants must submit an application by this deadline to guarantee merit scholarship consideration, including eligibility for Visionary Practice Scholarships.

Spring 2026 enrollment timeline

Sep 01

Undergraduate application available

Apply for admission to CCA for spring 2026 or fall 2026 terms.

Oct 01

Undergraduate spring priority deadline for first-year and transfer students

Deadline for first-year and transfer applicants to submit applications for spring semester to guarantee consideration for institutional scholarships.

Apply for undergraduate admission

Graduate

Start the admissions process

CCA application and program requirements

To apply to a CCA graduate program, visit our online application list in SlideRoom, select the program or dual-degree program application of your choice, create an account, and submit all required application materials. Please note: There is no separate scholarship application, and CCA does not require GRE scores.

Applications submitted by the graduate priority deadline will be given consideration for institutional merit scholarships as well as priority processing for application reviews with faculty. Applications received after the priority deadline will be considered on a rolling basis.

Graduate key dates

Sep 01

Graduate application available

Apply for admission to CCA for fall 2026.

Jan 15

Graduate application priority deadline

Deadline to submit an application for institutional scholarship consideration and admission for the following academic year. Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Individual program application requirements

Apply for graduate admission

Youth Programs

The future of art and design is YOU

High school students

Live and learn on campus with a community of artists and designers—while earning college credits. Apply to Pre-College.

Early high school students

Year-round weekend and summer intensive programs for high school students to learn new techniques and build portfolios. Register for the Atelier program.

Middle school students

Register for the Young Artist Studio Program, which offers one—and two-week intensives geared toward middle school students in sixth through eighth grade.

Adult Courses

Discover all the ways to keep learning

Year-round, on weekends and evenings, these noncredit courses push you creatively on your schedule. Register for extension courses at CCA.

Contact

We love hearing from you

Undergraduate and graduate students

Our admissions counselors can help answer your questions about CCA, arrange a campus visit, explain the application process, and much more. For general information about CCA, you can also call the admissions office at +1 800-447-1ART, text the admissions office at +1 415-610-7004, or send an email to [email protected].

Connect with a counselor

Youth programs and extension courses

For questions related to Youth Programs, please contact [email protected].

If you have questions regarding courses for adults, please email [email protected].

Get more details about your program of interest

Request information