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California Institute of the Arts

Accepted Students

Admissions

Students attend CalArts Accepted Students Day

We can’t wait to welcome you into our community of artists

Deciding where to get your education is an important decision. We are here to help you decide if CalArts echoes your artistic and academic ambitions. Some items to consider before submitting your enrollment deposit with CalArts are:
 

  • Key Dates

    Accepted Student Day: April 12
    MFA/MA Enrollment Deadline: April 15
    BFA Enrollment Deadline: May 1
    See all key dates

  • Financial aid guide

    Financial aid can be complicated, our financial aid guide will help you understand the processes needed to afford your education at CalArts.

  • Parents & families

    Welcome to the CalArts community! Parents and families are honorary CalArtians, and help keep our community vibrant and strong. 

Your next steps

To enroll at CalArts, you’ll need to take care of a few more things. You may need to log in to your CalArts account in order to complete these items. 

You can find your temporary CalArts Credentials at apply.calarts.edu/apply/status, and log in at sso.calarts.edu to reset your temporary password. If you need help logging in, please consult this guide for new students.

Become a CalArtian

Submit your enrollment deposit

If you intend to accept your offer of admission and enroll at CalArts, you will need to submit your non-refundable $400 enrollment deposit and your decision reply form by the deadline stated on your acceptance letter. To do so, log in to the application portal. Contact your admission representative with more questions. 

Submitting your enrollment deposit secures your place in the incoming class and ensures your scholarship (if applicable). Your acceptance into the program and merit-based scholarship are guaranteed until the enrollment deadline (or an approved extension). After this deadline, program enrollment and scholarship status may be subject to change.”

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Housing & meal plans

On-campus housing

Living on campus can be an important part of the college experience. Read more about on-campus housing options, including instructions and deadlines for applying.

Meal plans

CalArts offers a variety of meal plan options for students. Read about different plans available, and instructions on how to sign up for a meal plan.

International students next steps

Attend our virtual session for accepted international students.

Your first step towards attending CalArts is to submit your enrollment deposit and decision reply form.

A few days after you pay the enrollment deposit, you will receive information by email about the student visa application process. For an F-1 visa, you will be required to verify that you have sufficient funds to meet tuition and living expenses while studying in the United States.

The International Office will send out details about the pre-arrival webinar in June, and will release pre-orientation modules in August on topics such as on-campus employment and SSN, U.S Healthcare, and U.S. Driver’s License.

In-person check-in is required for ALL new international students starting a new program at CalArts. For most students, this can be done during the required International Student Orientation. For students who wish to check-in early, there will be early check-in times available.

Transcript requirements, transfer credit, and credit by examination

Transcript requirements: If you plan to attend CalArts, please submit official final transcripts and/or test scores to the Office of Admissions. 

Transfer credits: The BFA degree at CalArts requires 120 units, overall, including 46 units of Critical Studies coursework, 38 of which may be completed through transfer credit. Any transfer credit not approved by the School for métier credit or not applied to meet Critical Studies requirements will be assessed as a general elective credit and applied toward the overall unit requirement.

Transfer credit may be applied toward completion of the BFA degree only when those credits are completed at a regionally accredited post-secondary institution, or a foreign academic institution recognized by its government, and when a grade of A, B, C, or Pass was received.

Credit by examination: CalArts grants Critical Studies core credit toward the BFA degree for successful completion of examinations in the Advanced Placement Program of the College Entrance Examination Board, for the International Baccalaureate Diploma, and for British A Levels. Please view our Transfer Credit Policy for more information and AP, IB, and A Level Credit by Exam course by course equivalency guides. 

Course registration

New student registration opens in August. To prepare, please complete the Onboarding course in Canvas. Please note that you won’t receive your credentials to log in until you make your deposit. 

To gain access to Canvas, you will need to login to the CalArts Single Sign-On (SSO) page. CalArts SSO uses your CalArts credentials.

  1. Go to sso.calarts.edu and log-in with your CalArts credentials.
  2. Click on the Canvas tile to access your dashboard.
  3. Click on “Onboarding” to get started.

Disability services

CalArts has a commitment to provide equal educational opportunities to students who identify with having a disability or are otherwise documented. CalArts students who identify with having a disability or are otherwise qualified above are able to request accommodations from the Disability Services Office. 

Health and well-being

Creativity, physical, and mental health go hand in hand. At CalArts, we are committed to providing you with a space that allows you to thrive. To support this, we offer a range of health services, including counseling, medical care, and wellness programs tailored to meet the needs of every student.

Health insurance requirement

More information on health insurance requirements for CalArts students.

Please note that travel insurance does not meet CalArts Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) requirements.

Immunizations forms

In an effort to keep our community healthy, all students are required to have an immunization record on file with the Student Health Center which includes MMR, Tuberculosis, and Meningitis vaccinations. Immunization records are submitted through our HIPAA compliant platform, PyraMed, located on your CalArts account. Meningitis proof must be submitted before being allowed to move into campus Residential spaces. For more information, visit Health Services.

Designate access to student information

Students can designate one or more individuals, such as a parent or guardian, as a proxy—an authorized party to have access to FERPA-protected information such as financial aid and regiatration information or student accounts. Learn more and set up proxy access.

Campus Life

There is a special kind of energy here at CalArts. Whether it’s the uniqueness of our walls that are quite literally surrounded by student paintings and sculptures, our on-campus coffee house to give you a little pick me up, or a studio that brings out the most creative side of yourself, campus life is never boring. In fact, we have kept it exactly how Walt Disney imagined it: every artistic discipline sharing space under the same roof. 

Learn more about the CalArts Student Experience. 

Get your CalArts gear!

Visit the CalArts Store and use this special coupon code for a 20% discount. 

Coupon Code: GOTIN25
*Code valid April 1 to 11, 2025

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