Grow your skills in a region with worldwide influence

California College of the Arts admits students from around the world who are driven, diverse, original, socially conscious cultural-transformation-makers committed to changing the world and themselves through art and design. We think you’ll fit right in here.

Our undergraduate students (1,500 strong!) embrace risk-taking and are fueled by CCA’s Chimera spirit. The Chimera, a mythical creature made up of many diverse parts, is our unofficial mascot and represents a mindset that believes we’re better together. In fact, CCA was ranked sixth on Niche’s 2020 list of the most diverse colleges in the U.S.

The range of ideas, people, and creative practices on campus will give your work intelligence and depth, while our Career Development team will provide access to tools, events, networking opportunities, and a CCA job and internship board beginning your first year on campus. According to our survey of recent alumni, 78% of undergraduates work in a field related to their CCA training.

Together, our interdisciplinary community understands the evolution of creative economies and their increasingly important role in solving social, cultural, environmental, and economic problems. And we want you to be part of it—starting now.

Your experience will be truly groundbreaking

View recordings of prior virtual events

Did you miss a meetup, want to share a presentation with your family, or need to follow up on something you heard during a virtual Admitted Student Event? We recorded them for you! Below are links to view previously recorded events and presentations.

Virtual sessions

• New Student Technology Requirement
• Meet our CCA campus partners (March 31, 2020)
• International Student Affairs Information Session (April 3, 2020)
• Housing, Dining, and Residential Education Q&A (April 6, 2020)
• Campus life panel for parents and families (April 14, 2020)
• Student life panel (April 14, 2020)
• Virtual Student Panel with International Students at CCA (April 17, 2020)
• Q&A with CCA alumni (April 20, 2020)
• Career Development Information Session for Transfer Students (April 22, 2020)
• Admitted Fall 2020 Parent Info Session with First Year Program Chair Erik Scollon (May 13, 2020)
• Admitted international student presentations
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • Korean
  • English

Chat with a CCA program chair and faculty sessions

• Associate Chair of First Year Program Carol Elkovich (April 2, 2020)
• Architecture Chair Antje Steinmuller (April 9, 2020)
• Graphic Design Chair Rachel Berger (April 16, 2020)
• Painting + Drawing Chair Linda Geary (April 23, 2020)
• Interior Design Chair Amy Campos (April 28, 2020)
• Illustration Chair Owen Smith (April 30, 2020)
• Fashion Design faculty Gregory Climer (May 7, 2020)
• Animation faculty Meg Bisineer and Christoph Steger (May 7, 2020)

Take a virtual tour of CCA

Though we’re sorry we won’t able to greet you on campus and show you around in person, you can still connect with CCA from wherever you are.

Here’s a roundup of housing accommodations available to you as a first-year, second-year, or new transfer student at CCA. You’ll receive more information on how to apply to live in one of these residence halls after you submit your enrollment deposit.

Founders Hall

Be among the first to live here. Our newest residence hall at 188 Hooper Street opens in fall 2020.

• 500 students (first- and second-year students)
• Located on CCA’s San Francisco campus, Founders Hall's doors open directly into a courtyard that connects to first-year studios next door
• Building features include a cafe for student meal plans, a convenience store, bike space, top-floor terrace, and modern sustainable amenities
• Double occupancy and single occupancy rooms

Blattner Hall

View the San Francisco campus and skyline from this state-of-the-art building and residential community, which opened to students in 2019.

• 200 students (continuing students and transfer students)
• Two city blocks from CCA’s San Francisco campus
• Building features include ground-floor retail space, outdoor courtyards, and a large community gathering space
• Limited single occupancy rooms, and suite-style apartments with furnished four-bedroom and eight-person units (assigned as doubles)

Panoramic Residences

CCA students share this 12-story building with students from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

• 190 students (continuing students and transfer students)
• Two blocks from BART and Muni metro station, one block from CCA shuttle; 1.2 miles from San Francisco campus (10-minute bike ride)
• Building features include stainless steel appliances, flat screen TVs in each unit, soundproof engineering, and a bike storage/repair station
• Two-person studios and four-person suites

Declare your intent to attend by June 1

Your journey as a CCA student starts with your intent to enroll. To do this and confirm your attendance at CCA, submit the $300 enrollment deposit by June 1, 2020—or within two weeks of receiving your admission offer—using the link below. You’ll need to enter the student ID number provided in your offer of admission to complete the non-refundable deposit, which is used to cover registration fees ($115) and enrollment ($185).

Don’t miss these moments in the enrollment process

Be sure to plan accordingly—mark your calendar now and make travel arrangements in advance.

Admissions

We can talk you through your admission offer, schedule a visit to campus, and more. View our team’s contact information to find your counselor by region or student type.

Housing

For questions regarding housing opportunities, residential hall security, or submitting your housing application, email [email protected].

Financial Aid

Reach out to us with any financial aid or payment-related questions—from how to understand your award package to how to submit a payment. You can also email [email protected], call +1 415-703-9528, or view our Financial Aid team if you need additional support.