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?
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?
Faye Vavra (Painting & Drawing 2024) talks about her choice to attend CCA, scholarships, and the impact these decisions have had on her life and journey as an artist and student.
Tuition and room to grow
Undergraduate tuition for the academic year 2025–2026 is $60,864. View the undergraduate cost of attendance, including where you choose to live and how often you dine out.
Graduate tuition for the academic year 2025–2026 ranges from $44,346 to $76,968, 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
In addition to tuition, additional fees are necessary to cover the costs of collegewide services used by all students, such as facilities upkeep, library materials, and unlimited access to Adobe Creative Cloud.
Undergraduate fees are $900 for the academic year 2025–2026. Graduate fees vary depending on your program and range from $900 to $950, 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 cooking meals at home with friends, 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 2025–2026. 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).
The amounts in the tables below are the estimated costs to attend CCA. This "cost of attendance" matrix is intended to help students budget for the actual cost of attending CCA. It includes direct costs—specific amounts paid directly to the institution—and indirect costs—cost categories common to students and necessary to budget for but not paid directly to the institution. Indirect costs are an estimate of what a student may expect to budget for these items and may not reflect the exact amount they may pay for needs in each of these categories. Direct costs are listed in blue, and indirect costs in black.
Undergraduate
| On Campus, First / Second Year | On Campus, Upper Class person | Off Campus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TUITION | $60,864 | $60,864 | $60,864 |
| FEES | $900 | $900 | $900 |
| HOUSING/ROOM | $15,472 | $17,956 | $19,827 |
| FOOD | $6,804 | $6,804 | $6,804 |
| PERSONAL/MISC. | $2,196 | $2,196 | $2,574 |
| TRANSPORTATION | $1,602 | $1,602 | $1,935 |
| BOOKS & SUPPLIES | $1,500 | $2,208 | $2,208 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED COST | $89,338 | $92,530 | $95,112 |
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 | MDes Interaction Design | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TUITION | $64,140 | $51,312 | $44,898 | $44,346 | $76,968 |
| FEES | $900 | $900 | $900 | $950 | $950 |
| HOUSING/ROOM | $19,827 | $19,827 | $19,827 | $22,030 | $26,436 |
| FOOD | $6,804 | $6,804 | $6,804 | $7,560 | $9,072 |
| PERSONAL/MISC. | $2,574 | $2,574 | $2,574 | $2,860 | $3,432 |
| TRANSPORTATION | $1,935 | $1,935 | $1,935 | $2,150 | $2,580 |
| BOOKS & SUPPLIES | $2,190 | $1,752 | $1,533 | $1,752 | $2,628 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED COST | $98,370 | $85,104 | $78,471 | $81,648 | $122,066 |
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, tuition, scholarships, and more.
Contact CCA
[email protected]
+1 800-447-1ART (phone)
+1 415-610-7004 (text only)
Financial Aid office
[email protected]
+1 415-703-9528 (phone)
+1 415-551-9261 (fax)
145 Hooper Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
+1 415-703-9500 (phone)
Take the next step toward funding your future