Cost of Attendance (20-21)

Because of COVID-19 guidelines, CalArts is not offering room and board for the Fall 2020 semester.

2020-2021 Cost of Attendance Financial Aid Budgets

Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of students’ educational expenses for the period of enrollment, as determined by the school.  COA includes, but is not limited to, tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, medical expenses, transportation, etc. Need-based grants, loans, and Federal Work Study are based on students’ (and families’) demonstrated financial need.  The COA is the cornerstone of establishing a student’s financial need, as it sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive for purposes of Campus-Based Programs, Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS Loans, and is one of the primary components of the Federal Pell Grant calculation.

  • Billable (Direct) Costs – Direct costs are the actual charges that a student is billed by the CalArts accounting department. 
  • Estimated (Indirect) Costs – Indirect costs are other estimated costs associated with attending CalArts.  These are not exact costs, but are used to help students estimate a total cost of attendance for a year of enrollment at CalArts. 

View 2020-2021 Tuition and Fees Deadlines

Undergraduates

2020-21 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance - Undergraduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $26,425 $26,425 $52,850
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total
 $26,733 $26,733 $53,466

Estimated (Indirect) Expenses
 Fall Spring Total
Room $5,963 $5,963 $11,926
Meals $2,037 $2,037 $4,074
Books/Supplies $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation
 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses
 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $12,328 $12,328 $24,656
Cost of Attendance Total $39,061 $39,061 $78,122

2020-21 Off-Campus (With Parents) Cost of Attendance - Undergraduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $26,425 $26,425 $52,850
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total
 $26,733 $26,733 $53,466

Estimated (Indirect) Expenses
 Fall Spring Total
Room and Meals $3,000 $3,000 $6,000
Books/Supplies $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation
 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses
 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $7,328 $7,328 $14,656
Cost of Attendance Total $34,061 $34,061 $68,122

Graduates

2020-21 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance - Graduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $26,425 $26,425 $52,850
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $26,733 $26,733 $53,466

Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Room $5,963 $5,963 $11,926
Meals $2,037 $2,037 $4,074
Books/Supplies
 $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $12,328 $12,328 $24,656
Cost of Attendance Total $39,061 $39,061 $78,122

2020-21 Off-Campus (With Parents) Cost of Attendance - Graduate

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $26,425 $26,425 $52,850
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total $26,733 $26,733 $53,466

Estimated (Indirect) Expenses Fall Spring Total
Room and Meals $3,000 $3,000 $6,000
Books/Supplies
 $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $7,328 $7,328 $14,656
Cost of Attendance Total $34,061 $34,061 $68,122

MA Aesthetics & Politics - 1st Year

2020-21 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance – MA 1st Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $21,115 $21,115 $42,230
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total
 $21,423 $21,423 $42,846
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses
 Fall Spring Total
Room $5,963 $5,963 $11,926
Meals $2,037 $2,037 $4,074
Books/Supplies $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation
 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses
 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $12,328 $12,328 $24,656
Cost of Attendance Total $33,751 $33,751 $67,502

2020-21 Off-Campus (With Parents) Cost of Attendance – MA 1st Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $21,115 $21,115 $42,230
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total
 $21,423 $21,423 $42,846
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses
 Fall Spring Total
Room and Meals $3,000 $3,000 $6,000
Books/Supplies $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation
 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses
 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $7,328 $7,328 $14,656
Cost of Attendance Total $28,751 $28,751 $57,502

MA Aesthetics & Politics – 2nd Year

2020-21 Off-Campus Cost of Attendance – MA 2nd Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $10,580 $10,580 $21,160
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total
 $10,888 $10,888 $21,776
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses
 Fall Spring Total
Room $5,963 $5,963 $11,926
Meals $2,037 $2,037 $4,074
Books/Supplies $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation
 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses
 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $12,328 $12,328 $24,656
Cost of Attendance Total $23,216 $23,216 $46,432

2020-21 Off-Campus (With Parents) Cost of Attendance – MA 2nd Year

Billable (Direct) Costs Fall Spring Total
Tuition $10,580 $10,580 $21,160
Fees
 $308 $308 $616
Billable (Direct) Costs Sub-Total
 $10,888 $10,888 $21,776
Estimated (Indirect) Expenses
 Fall Spring Total
Room and Meals $3,000 $3,000 $6,000
Books/Supplies $500 $500 $1,000
Transportation
 $1,000 $1,000 $2,000
Personal Expenses
 $1,500 $1,500 $3,000
Medical $1,328 $1,328 $2,656
Indirect Expenses Sub-Total $7,328 $7,328 $14,656
Cost of Attendance Total $18,216 $18,216 $36,432