Undergraduate Admitted Student Next Steps
Congratulations! You’ve been admitted to attend a top art and design school in the country, at one of the most exciting times in its history. These steps will help you understand your offer and submit a deposit to accept your admission to CCA. We can’t wait to see what you do here.
Choose CCA
A top tier college laser-focused on art and design
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.
You should first schedule an Admitted Student Appointment to go over your offer with an admissions counselor or, if you already know your answer is yes!, submit your enrollment deposit to declare your acceptance.
Launch your creative career at CCA
At CCA, you’ll be immersed in the radical spirit that makes the San Francisco Bay Area so legendary. You’ll learn from experienced artists, architects, designers, and writers continually engaged with the modern challenges and opportunities in your field (88% of our faculty are professional practitioners). The strong mentorship culture at CCA is bolstered by our 8:1 student-to-faculty ratio, with an average of only 10 students per class.
Our undergraduate students 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 is ranked as one of the top 25 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.
The CCA student experience
Your experience will be truly groundbreaking
CCA’s campus expansion will embolden your practice.
The college is currently building the centerpiece to its bold campus expansion in San Francisco. Opening in 2024, a whole new footprint at Double Ground will dramatically grow CCA with a complex of architecturally inspired and environmentally conscious buildings surrounding an outdoor plaza and welcoming green spaces to foster a sense of connectedness, collaboration, and community. Offset on two main levels, hence the name Double Ground, the expanded campus will house brand-new facilities, workshops, and studios, which will allow for unexpected cross-disciplinary dialogue and inspiration.
A portion of our campus expansion is already complete. Now a fully residential college, CCA maintains on-campus student housing in two new state-of-the-art buildings with the capacity to house over 700 students: Blattner Hall, which opened in 2018 and is home to continuing undergraduate and transfer students, and Founders Hall, which opened in 2020 and is home to most of CCA’s first- and second-year students.
Admissions Events
Your future at CCA is about to begin
RSVP for Admitted Student Day on April 1
Join us in San Francisco to celebrate your admission! Tour our facilities and get to know the CCA community, your program faculty, and your fellow admitted students as you prepare to make your admissions decision. This is your chance to experience our studios, visit student housing, and meet the faculty who will be your mentors.
Saturday, April 1, 2023
10 am - 2 pm
Register to attend the admitted student reception, community celebration, and additional sessions throughout the event:
- Guided tours of campus and student housing
- Specialized studio tours and demos: Textiles, Printmedia, and Photography
- First Year Program info session
- Transfer student enrollment informational session and Q&A
Health, safety, and logistics
This event requires pre-registration to attend.
CCA encourages all guests in attendance to be fully vaccinated and wear a mask while in crowded indoor spaces. We invite you to bring your family or supporters, but please limit to three guests per admitted student. We are glad to accommodate accessibility requests. Please reach out if you have questions about accommodations.
Campus tours for admitted students
We're hosting campus tours on Saturdays in April for admitted students who cannot join us in San Francisco on April 1 for Admitted Student Day.
Tours will be led by admissions counselors who will show you around CCA's campus in San Francisco, including our state-of-the-art studios and new residence hall. Advance registration is required to participate.
Meet CCA where you are
This spring, our admissions staff will also host gatherings for newly admitted CCA students in select cities in the U.S. and around the world:
- U.S.
Chicago: April 8
Houston: March 29
Los Angeles: April 15
Miami: March 25
New York: April 15
Seattle: April 15 - Canada
Vancouver: April 16 - Mexico
Mexico City: March 25 - South Korea
Seoul: March 26 - Taiwan
Taipei: March 24
Virtual admitted student events
We're also hosting virtual sessions for our admitted students and their families to get to know CCA from wherever you are. Chat with current CCA students and parents, talk to faculty about our majors, and learn more about housing on campus. Join us on Zoom to get answers to all your questions about California College of the Arts as you make your admissions decision.
- CCA Student Perspectives: Talk to current students
Wednesday, March 29, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (PDT) - CCA Housing, Dining, and Residential Education
Monday, April 3, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (PDT) - Genre Storytelling Workshop
Thursday, April 6, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (PDT) - Admitted Student Financial Aid Literacy Workshop
Wednesday, April 12, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (PDT) - CCA Parent Perspectives: Talk to current CCA parents
Wednesday, April 19, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm (PDT)
Offer of Admission
Understand the big picture before deciding
Review all your information
We’re excited to have you join CCA, but we know coming to college is a big choice, for both you and your family. That’s why we ensure you can understand all aspects of your offer—information you’ll need as you make your acceptance decision.
You should also review your financial aid, review your transfer credits, schedule an Admitted Student Appointment to go over your offer with an admissions counselor, and explore your housing options online. If you already know you’d like to accept your offer and attend CCA, awesome! You can submit your enrollment deposit now and get started with the next steps.
Financial Aid
View your financial aid information in one location
Economic diversity is integral to CCA
To view your financial aid offer online, log in to the CCA Undergraduate Applicant Page, click on View My Financial Aid Packages, and select your program for the appropriate academic year.
Our offer of admission may have included a merit scholarship from CCA. If you are eligible and completed the necessary forms, our financial aid award offer may also include federal and state financial aid.
Domestic students
- For U.S. citizens, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and include CCA's federal school code 001127.
- For Dreamers, DACA recipients, or undocumented students, complete the California Dream Act Application.
California residents should complete either the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by March 2 to be eligible for a Cal Grant.
If you have already submitted your FAFSA or California Dream Act Application, you may view your financial aid award offer online. Log in to the CCA Undergraduate Applicant Page, click on View my financial aid packages, and select your program for the appropriate academic year.
If you have any outstanding requirements to complete your financial aid application (for example, if you have been selected for verification), you can view and upload documentation on the CCA Undergraduate Applicant Page by clicking on My Financial Aid Requirements.
International students
International students are not eligible for federal and state financial aid, so do not need to fill out the forms mentioned above. Explore additional financial aid information and resources for international students.
Invest in your future
Transfer Credit
View your transfer information in one location
Transfer students make valuable contributions to CCA
If you are transferring credits to CCA, you can view a preliminary transfer credit report within two weeks of receiving your offer of admission.
To review any preliminary transfer credit:
- Log in to the CCA Undergraduate Applicant page
- Select Fall 2023 Application under Your Applications
- Click on Reports/Preliminary Transfer Credit Report to view your Preliminary Transfer Credit Report
The Office of Admissions will follow up with an email with how your transfer credit could apply toward your degree at CCA. This process may take up to two weeks.
Campus Housing
Live in brand new campus communities
Make connections and thrive
Our newest residence hall in the center of campus is home to most of CCA’s first- and second-year resident students. You’ll live on campus for your first two years and have access to on-site social events, counseling services, and residential programming—and a meal plan centered in our brand new cafe—which makes it easier to get to know your peers, your neighbors, and yourself. Recent residence hall activities include:
- Language Lounges
- “Know the Bay” Group Trips
- Resident Advisor Socials
- Reverse Trick or Treat
- Welcome Week
- Meet and Greets
Exterior view of CCA's Founders Hall. Photo by Richard Barnes.
Founders Hall
Be among the first to live here. Our newest residence hall at 188 Hooper Street opened 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
Submit Your Deposit
Accept your offer by making an enrollment deposit
Fall 2023 students: Declare your intent by May 1
Your journey as a CCA student starts with your intent to enroll. To confirm your attendance, sign in to the CCA applicant page to accept your offer of admission and submit the $300 deposit by May 1, 2023, or within two weeks of receiving your offer of admission, whichever is later.
To sign in, you’ll use the same email address you used to apply to CCA. (Yep, even if you applied through CommonApp!) If you have any trouble logging in, use the “reset password” feature.
Once you’re signed in, select your application and follow the instructions to accept the offer of admission and submit the enrollment deposit. This non-refundable deposit covers your enrollment ($185) and registration fees ($115).
Go to Next Steps
After you’ve deposited, here’s what’s next
Select housing, a dining plan, and more
After you’ve made your enrollment deposit, it’s time to follow the Enrollment Checklist, which includes obtaining your I-20 and F-1 visa (if you’re an international student), applying for campus housing, selecting your dining plan, registering for classes, and preparing to attend orientation.
Key Dates
Let the countdown to campus begin
Don’t miss these moments in the enrollment process
Be sure to plan accordingly—mark your calendar now.
Contact Us
Take the next steps with full support
Our teams are here to help
With your admission to CCA, you’ve achieved the first step toward academic, artistic, and personal fulfillment—enjoy it! We know that the next steps and the cost of tuition may seem overwhelming at first, but with our dedicated teams of counselors, you have someone who can answer any questions every step of the way.
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Admissions
Schedule an appointment with a counselor.
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.
Take the first step in accepting your CCA admission