Tuition & Fees

CCA will partner with you and your family to help you achieve your goals. Get information on our tuition, fees, and financial aid programs designed to make CCA more affordable, so all students can reach their creative potential.

Introduction

What’s the cost of an education at CCA?

Students celebrating at their graduation ceremony.

An investment in your creative future

CCA is a private, nonprofit institution that relies on tuition revenue to provide a unique arts education to students from all around the world. And because we’re committed to making an arts education more accessible, a significant portion of CCA’s operating budget is allocated to scholarships that assist students’ financial needs.

Tuition

What are CCA’s tuition costs?

Illustrator Emeric Kennard's (BFA Illustration 2017) CCA experience and how support from the CCA community helped.

Tuition and room to grow

Undergraduate tuition for the academic year 2023–2024 is $57,096. View the undergraduate cost of attendance, including where you choose to live and how often you dine out.

Graduate tuition for the academic year 2023–2024 ranges from $36,108 to $72,216, depending on your course of study. View the graduate cost of attendance below to find specific information about any programs you’re interested in.

Fees

How we maintain shared spaces and tools

Covering facilities, resources, and transportation

While CCA works hard to keep your tuition low, some additional fees are necessary to cover the costs of college-wide services used by all students, such as facilities upkeep, library materials, and unlimited access to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Undergraduate fees are $850 for the academic year 2023–2024. Graduate fees vary depending on your program and range from $4490 to $900, with some covering the cost of low-residency programs, during which graduate students aren’t on campus full-time. View the tables of estimated costs and fees below to find information relevant to you.

Estimated Cost

Get a bird’s-eye view

What are the total costs to attend CCA?

From living on campus to choosing to cook meals at home with friends, there are many ways you can economize and afford a top arts and design education. Explore the tables below for undergraduate and graduate programs, and get information on the total estimated cost of attendance for 2023–2024. You can also explore your personal estimated cost by using our net-price calculator. Check out what our Financial Aid office has to offer and find funding solutions that work best for you.

Note: Data pertains to entering full-time enrolled students per academic year. View the current year's tuition and fees schedule and Student Accounts for more details.

All amounts below are in U.S. dollars (USD).

Undergraduate

On Campus, First / Second Year On Campus, Upper Classmen With Parents Off Campus
TUITION $57,096 $57,096 $57,096 $57,096
FEES $850 $850 $850 $850
HOUSING/ROOM $14,787 $16,101 $0 $15,120
FOOD $6,288 $6,288 $4,025 $6,288
PERSONAL/MISC. $2,196 $2,196 $2,952 $2,574
TRANSPORTATION $1,602 $1,602 $2,277 $1,935
BOOKS & SUPPLIES $1,500 $2,200 $1,500 $2,200
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $84,319 $86,333 $68,700 $86,063

Note: All full-time students are required to have health insurance coverage while attending CCA. The amounts listed above do not include the cost of CCA’s health insurance plan. View estimated medical insurance costs.

Graduate

MFA Design, MFA Fine Arts, MFA Film, MArch, MAAD DMBA MFA Writing MA Visual & Critical Studies MFA Comics MFA Comics Residency Program MDes Interaction Design
TUITION $60,180 $60,180 $48,144 $36,108 $38,052 $50,088 $72,216
FEES $850 $540 $850 $850 $440 $590 $900
HOUSING/ROOM $15,120 $15,120 $15,120 $15,120 $16,800 $17,890 $20,160
FOOD $6,288 $6,288 $6,288 $6,288 $6,987 $6,987 $8,385
PERSONAL/MISC. $2,574 $2,574 $2,574 $2,574 $2,860 $2,440 $3,432
TRANSPORTATION $1,935 $1,935 $1,935 $1,935 $2,150 $1,780 $2,580
BOOKS & SUPPLIES $2,200 $2,200 $1,760 $1,320 $1,760 $2,200 $2,640
TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $89,147 $88,837 $76,671 $64,195 $69,049 $81,975 $110,313

Note: All full-time students are required to have health insurance coverage while attending CCA. The amounts listed above do not include the cost of CCA’s health insurance plan. View estimated medical insurance costs.

Calculator

Understand your options

Net-price calculator

With our easy-to-use net-price calculators, you and your family have a simple way to calculate the estimated net cost of attending CCA. By answering a few simple questions, you’ll get an estimate based on your eligibility for merit and need-based financial aid at CCA.

Try the net-price calculator for first-year students or transfer students.

Financial Aid

Take advantage of financial aid opportunities

Fund your education

With exciting internship opportunities, industry connections, and career development support, attending CCA is an investment in your future.

Scholarships

CCA funds a wide array of scholarship opportunities, for both undergraduate and graduate students, including merit scholarships, the Visionary Practice Scholarship, need-based scholarships, and more.

Grants

When you combine CCA scholarships with Cal Grants and federal grants you may receive up to 85% of your tuition covered each year depending on your (and your family’s) financial circumstances.

Work-study opportunities

Working on campus while studying at CCA can help provide you with the necessary resources to meet your expenses. From on-campus student employment programs to off-campus work opportunities, CCA can help find the right option for you.

Scholarships for international students

Nearly half of international students at CCA are awarded merit scholarships ranging from $10,000 to $20,000 USD based on a student’s portfolio and academic success.

Contact

We’re here to help

You’re our number one priority

From admission to graduation, we’re committed to making your arts education a seamless experience. Don’t hesitate to reach out with your questions about fees, tuitions, scholarships, and more.

Contact CCA

[email protected]
+1 800-447-1ART (phone)
+1 415-610-7004 (text message only)

Financial Aid office

[email protected]
+1 415-703-9528 (phone)
+1 415-551-9261 (fax)

1111 Eighth Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
+1 415-703-9500 (phone)

Take the next step toward funding your future

Apply now