collageCalarts film school acceptance rate is a very important factor to consider when applying to the school. The university has a very low acceptance rate of only 15%. This means that only 15% of those who apply will be accepted into the program. Calarts portfolio requirements will vary depending on what type of program you’re interested in. For example, if you want to study animation or design, you will need to submit some examples of your work along with your application. But if you’re interested in acting or cinematography, you may not need any examples at all since these programs require less technical knowledge and more creativity. In this article we will discuss Calarts Film School Acceptance Rate, cal arts tuition, calarts scholarships, is calarts a good school for acting and calarts portfolio requirements.
In order to get into the school for undergraduate studies, an applicant must have at least an 86 average on their GPA (grade point average). For graduate studies, the average GPA requirement is 82 or higher depending on the program selected by an applicant. In addition to these minimum requirements for admission, applicants should also have experience with acting or other creative pursuits such as painting or writing so they can demonstrate their ability during their interview process at Calarts University College of Art + Design (CACAD). Read on to know more on Calarts Film School Acceptance Rate, cal arts tuition, calarts scholarships, is calarts a good school for acting and calarts portfolio requirements.
Calarts is one of the best schools in the country to study acting. It’s a private university located in Valencia, California. The school was founded in 1961 and has been helping students pursue their dreams ever since.
If you’re looking to learn how to act on stage or screen, then Calarts is definitely worth considering.
Calarts Film School Acceptance Rate
We begin with Calarts Film School Acceptance Rate, then, cal arts tuition, calarts scholarships, is calarts a good school for acting and calarts portfolio requirements.
CalArts is a unique and highly selective art school located in Valencia, California. It was founded in 1961 by Walt Disney, and to this day it focuses on the visual and performing arts.
CalArts has an acceptance rate of 25%, so don’t let that deter you! The popular majors include Animation, Video Graphics and Special Effects, Acting, and Studio Arts. Graduating 66% of students, CalArts alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $26,900.
cal arts tuition
Next, we review cal arts tuition, calarts scholarships, is calarts a good school for acting and calarts portfolio requirements.
We are committed to making our tuition and fees clear, and our financial aid processes easy to navigate to help fund your creative education.
Tuition at CalArts is established annually by the Board of Trustees and is subject to change each year. Tuition covers instruction, facilities, and some materials used within the regular programs. Students should be prepared to supply materials required for most projects. Tuition and fees (less than any financial aid awarded) are due on or before registration each semester.
For new students, a nonrefundable tuition deposit of $700, to be applied toward tuition, is due with the Statement of Intention to Register. Upon registration, new students must make a deposit of $300 to cover loss or damage to CalArts property (keys, library books, equipment, etc.). It is refundable at the time of graduation or withdrawal.
Tuition and Fees
2022-2023 Annual Tuition
| Degree Program | Per Semester | Full Year |
| Full-Time Undergraduate (BFA & Certificate), Graduate (MFA & Advanced Certificate), and Doctoral (DMA) programs | $27,220 | $54,440 |
| Full-Time MA Aesthetics and Politics program (1st year only) | $21,795 | $43,590 |
| Low-Residency MA Aesthetics and Politics program (2nd year only) | $10,897 | $21,795 |
All CalArts tuition rates increase annually. The annual increase is typically 4%-5%, including for the second, low-residency year of the MA program.
2022-2023 Annual Fees
| Fee Type | Per Semester | Full Year |
| Student Activity/Student Life Fee | $58 | $116 |
| Technology Fee | $250 | $500 |
2022-2023 On-Campus Housing Fees
| Chouinard Hall (undergraduate only) | Per Semester | Full Year |
| Single Occupancy (Approved accommodations only) | $5,235 | $10,470 |
| Double Occupancy | $3,590 | $7,180 |
| Triple Occupancy | $2,705 | $5,410 |
All residents of Chouinard Hall are required to enroll in the 10-meal per week plan at a minimum, and this cost will be reflected on the student’s bill. Students may choose to upgrade to a 14, 17 or block meal plan during registration each semester.
| Ahmanson Hall (graduate only) | Per Semester | Full Year |
| Private Bedroom in a Shared Apartment Suite | $4,590 | $9,180 |
2022-2023 Meal Plans
| Meal plans offered by Bon Appétit | fall semester | spring semester | annual cost |
| 5 meals per week + $50/$60 flex | $870 | $1,099 | $1,969 |
| 10 meals per week + $150/$170 Flex | $1,760 | $2,175 | $3,935 |
| 14 meals per week + $150/$170 Flex | $2,357 | $2,908 | $5,265 |
| 17 meals per week + $100/$100 Flex | $2,687 | $3,326 | $6,013 |
| 140 Block Meal Plan + $150 Flex per week (allows access to 140 meals at any time during the semester) | $2,127 | $2,127 | $4,254 |
Meals can be redeemed during regular meal times at CalArts main cafeteria (Steve’s Café). Flex dollars can be used like a bank debit card to purchase snacks, drinks or meals in either Steve’s Café or in Tatum Lounge.
2021-2022 Health Insurance Fees
| Fee Type | Fall Semester | Spring Semester | Full Year |
| Administered by Academic Health Plans underwritten by UnitedHealthCare Student Resources | $921 | $1,834 | $2,755 |
All CalArts students will be automatically enrolled in the CalArts health insurance plan. This cost will be reflected on the student’s bill each semester.
calarts scholarships
Now, we find out calarts scholarships, is calarts a good school for acting and calarts portfolio requirements.
Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid. Federal and state government grants based on financial need are common and CalArts also has financial assistance opportunities that are based on merit and need.
CalArts Scholarships & Grants
CalArts’ institutionally-funded scholarships and grants are aimed at increasing equity in CalArts classrooms and ensuring a diversity of voices have access to a CalArts education. Below is a brief description of how we award financial aid.
Merit Scholarships
Merit Scholarships are the first component of the CalArts financial aid package.
All admitted students are considered for Merit Scholarships based on the admissions portfolio or audition. These scholarships are limited and very competitive, going only to the top 30% of the incoming class.
Faculty identify merit recipients through a holistic approach, taking into consideration the following criteria:
- The student demonstrates outstanding academic and artistic potential.
- The work is imbued with a strong personal aesthetic and sense of originality.
- The award supports a diversity of voices and a diversity of practices, in alignment with CalArts’ focus on experimentation, diversity, and interdisciplinarity.
- The award ensures balance and representation within each program and throughout the school.
- The student’s prior academic and artistic achievement, and evaluation of each student’s placement within their group of peers.
CalArts Merit Scholarships are awarded in the amount of $10,000 per year. Students who receive Merit Scholarships in their first year of enrollment retain the annual scholarship each year of their degree program.
Equity Grants
Domestic students with financial need who submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline will be reviewed for eligibility to receive Equity Grants. These awards are intended to reduce the size of the gap between each student’s available resources and the total cost of attendance.
Please note: There are some scenarios through which your Equity Grant may be adjusted after you receive your initial award letter, such as the addition of a CalGrant award, a private scholarship, or a change in your Estimated Family Contribution.
Access Grants
CalArts will award a limited number of Access Grants to ensure a diversity of voices throughout the incoming class. All domestic and international students may be considered for Access Grants, which vary in amounts and eligibility, and are awarded at the discretion of each school. A FAFSA or Dream Act Application is not required to be considered for Access Grants, but is strongly recommended for domestic students.
Access Grants are determined using the following criteria:
- Demonstrated financial need not adequately addressed through the Equity Grants.
- Exceptional merit demonstrated by students in highly competitive fields of study.
- Further support of diverse voices and artistic practices within specific student cohorts.
- Ensure balance across programs in each school and support yield of admitted students.
Endowed & Annually Funded Scholarships
Many CalArts scholarships are donated by individuals, organizations, or foundations and carry the donor or organization’s name. Selection of the recipient is dependent upon the donor(s) requirements.
Here is a selection of scholarships currently available to students at CalArts.
- qey’s (Dream) Scholarship for Indigenous Artists – This scholarship provides full cost of tuition for an undergraduate or graduate student from an Indigenous community or nation, with preference given to a member of the Hopi Tribe. It is designed to provide full support of tuition expenses for the student throughout their tenure at CalArts. All Native American/Indigenous students are encouraged to apply.
- Beutner Family Community Arts Partnership Award – This annually funded scholarship supports CalArts students who participated in the Community Arts Partnership program.
- Feature Music Scholarship and Feature Arts Scholarship – These scholarships are awarded to a BFA4 in the Herb Alpert School of Music or the School of Art who self-identifies as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
- The Mercedes and Gabriel García Márquez Scholarship Fund – This annually funded scholarship supports undergraduate students of Mexican or Latino heritage.
- Roy O. Disney Scholarship – supports the cost of attendance for a maximum of four years for up to four undergraduate students, with a preference given to students who participated in the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) program or a similar educational outreach program for the same or similar target population that CAP currently serves..
- The Michael Eisner Scholarship Fund – This scholarship supports former participants in the Community Arts Partnership program, with priority given to students studying animation, film/video, and other forms of digital and media arts.
Please note that scholarship recipients at CalArts are chosen by the faculty and administration within each school.
Federal Grants
Federal Grant award amounts are contingent upon sufficient funding by the federal government and are subject to change.
Federal Pell Grant
The Federal Pell Grant is awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. A Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. The amount of the award is based on the EFC (expected family contribution) from the FAFSA results and is prorated if enrolled less than full-time each semester. The maximum award for the 2020-21 academic year is $6,345. The EFC must be lower than 5711 to be eligible as a full-time student. Please view/download the following chart for the 2020-21 academic year for a breakdown based upon enrollment and the EFC. Eligibility is limited to 12 full-time semesters (or the equivalent).
Effective summer 2018, students who have received a full-time Pell Grant for the fall and spring terms and are enrolled at least half-time for the summer term may have additional Pell Grant eligibility.
Federal SEOG
FSEOG is awarded to students that have exceptional financial need and have also been awarded a Federal Pell Grant. FSEOG does not have to be repaid. Funding is limited and priority consideration is given to students with a zero Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). The maximum award is $1,000 per academic year.
Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG)
The IASG is for students whose parent or guardian was a member of the U.S. armed forces and died as a result of performing military service in Iraq or Afghanistan after the events of 9/11. Must have been less than 24 years old or enrolled at least part-time at an institution of higher education at the time of the parent’s or guardian’s death. Must be ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant based on expected family contribution (EFC), but meet the remaining Federal Pell Grant eligibility requirements.
Cal Grant (State of California Residents Only)
The Cal Grant is money for college that does not have to be repaid. To be considered, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the deadline (March 2nd) and meet all financial criteria and eligibility requirements discussed below, which includes a minimum GPA requirement. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.
Your eligibility will be determined by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) based on your FAFSA or CADAA responses, type(s) of qualifying California college(s) listed, verified Cal Grant GPA, and whether you are a recent California high school graduate. For the complete listing of all eligibility requirements, please visit https://www.csac.ca.gov/cal-grants.
Eligibility Requirements
Basic Eligibility Requirements for All Cal Grant Programs
- Submit the FAFSA or CADAA application and your verified Cal Grant GPA by March 2.
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen or meet AB540 eligibility criteria.
- Be a California resident for 1 year.
- Attend a qualifying California college.
- Not have a bachelor’s or professional degree.
- Have financial need at the college of your choice.
- Have family income and assets below the minimum levels (see table below).
- Be enrolled or plan to enroll in a program leading to an undergraduate degree or certificate.
- Be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half time.
- Have registered with the U.S. Selective Service, if required to do so.
- Not owe a refund on any state or federal grant or be in default on a student loan.
- Not be incarcerated.
- Maintain the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards as established by the school. Recipients who do not meet the standards are ineligible for Cal Grant payment and will not use eligibility during the terms they are ineligible for payment.
Types of Cal Grants
Cal Grant A and B Entitlement Awards
Entitlement awards are available to graduating seniors, prior year graduates, and students who transfer directly from a California community college to a 4-year university and are under age 28 by December 31 of the award year. Entitlement awards are guaranteed for students who meet financial and merit requirements:
- Graduating high school seniors and prior year high school graduates must have a verified high school GPA minimum of 3.0 for Cal Grant A
- Graduating high school seniors and prior year high school graduates must have a verified high school GPA minimum of 2.0 for Cal Grant B
- Students who transfer directly from a California community college to a 4-year university and are under age 28 by December 31 of the award year must have a verified community college GPA minimum of 2.4 for Cal Grant A or B
- For any student to receive a Cal Grant A or B, total family income or family assets must not exceed the ceilings outlined below:
Cal Grant A and B Competitive Awards
Students who are not eligible for Cal Grant Entitlement awards can be considered for Cal Grant Competitive awards. This is a competitive award and limited to 41,000 awards each academic year. To be considered for a Competitive Award, students must:
- Meet all basic Cal Grant eligibility requirements.
- Meet GPA verification minimum requirements.
- Be under the income and asset ceilings.
Outside Private Scholarships
Outside scholarships are awarded to a student’s financial aid award upon receipt of the scholarship check from the donor. Once funds are received by CalArts, they will be disbursed to your student account according to our disbursement schedule. If you have received or are expecting to receive an outside scholarship, please notify the Financial Aid Office, as they are required to document this information accordingly and make any necessary adjustments to your financial aid per federal guidelines.
General Scholarships
- Adobe Design Circle Scholarship
- Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship
- American Indian Graduate Center
- Art Career Project (Multiple Scholarships)
- Beyond the Boroughs Scholarship
- Bridging the Dream Scholarship (Graduate Students)
- California Chafee Grant for Foster Youth
- Catching the Dream – Native American Scholarships
- Gallery Collection Greeting Card Scholarship
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Iranian-American Scholarship Fund
- Islamic Scholarship Fund
- Jack Kent Cooke Foundation – College Scholarship Program
- JVS Scholarship Program
- Laura Bassi Scholarship (Graduate Students)
- Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship
- Music Forward Foundation Scholarships
- POET Scholarship
- Pretty Presets Scholarship
- RealtyHop Scholarship
- Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation
- Sebring Scholarship
- Study.com Undergraduate Academic Scholarships
- Taco Bell Foundation Live Mas Scholarship
- The Ebell of Los Angeles
- Thurgood Marshall College Fund
- United Negro College Fund
- U.S. Bank Scholarship
- Upakar Scholarship
- VIDA Creative Arts Impact Scholarship
- Warner Bros. Reach Scholarships
- Yellow Ribbon Program
- Young Arts
Art Scholarships
- 1st Art Gallery Scholarship
- AIAS – Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund
- Art Career Project (Multiple Scholarships)
- CardsDirect Future Designer Scholarship
- Chelsy Tomashoff Memorial Scholarship
- Contevo Digital Marketing Scholarship
- Frame My Future Scholarship
- Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program
- Krylon Clear Choice Art Scholarship
- Leslie T. and Francis Posey Scholarship Fund
- Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation
- Project Yellow Light Scholarship
- Sprak Design “Graphic and Web Design Scholarship”
- Tombow “Create Your Best Work” Art Scholarship
- Whitaker Foundation Art Scholarship
- Worldstudio AIGA Scholarship
Dance Scholarships
- Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program
- Princess Grace Awards
Film/Video Scholarships
- AIAS – Randy Pausch Scholarship Fund
- AMIA Scholarships
- Charles and Lucille King Family Foundation Scholarship
- Francis D. Lyon Scholarship
- Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program
- Princess Grace Awards
- Project Yellow Light Scholarship
- Warner Bros. Reach Honorship Program
Music Scholarships
- 1st Art Gallery Scholarship
- Art Career Project – Scholarship for Music & Performing Arts
- Chopin Foundation of the U.S. Scholarship Program for Young Pianists
- Diversity in Music Education Scholarship
- Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program
- Glenn Miller Annual Scholarship Competition
- House of Blues Music Forward Scholarships
- John Lennon Scholarship Competition
- Music Scholarships
- Nashville Songwriting Scholarship
- Nellie Love Butcher Music Scholarship
- Peermusic Latin Scholarship
Theater Scholarships
- 1st Art Gallery Scholarship
- Friends of the California State Fair Scholarship Program
- Grace Kelly Scholarship
- How To Get Into Drama School Scholarship Program
- Melba Day Henning Scholarship
- Music Center Spotlight Awards
Scholarship Search Engines
- FastWeb
- Go Grad Graduate Scholarships
- Latino College Dollars
- MoneyGeek.com
- Music Scholarships
- Sallie Mae Graduate Scholarship Search
- Sallie Mae Scholarship Search
- Scholarship America
- Scholarships.com
- Scholly Mobile App
- Unigo
- US Department of Labor Scholarship Finder
is calarts a good school for acting
CalArts is a great school for acting.
Priding itself today as “one of the preeminent theater training grounds in the country,” the school is worthy of making any prospective performing arts student’s shortlist.
What Makes CalArts a Good School for Acting?
CalArts has been around since 1970 and has since grown into one of the most important conservatories in the country. It’s known for its innovative curriculum, which blends both classical techniques with contemporary techniques. In addition to being home to some of Hollywood’s most famous alumni (including Julia Roberts), CalArts also offers an MFA program—which means that if you’re looking for something more advanced than an undergraduate degree, this could be your school!
The school’s emphasis on experimentation means that students learn how to collaborate with each other as well as with their professors: There are no grades given at CalArts, only feedback from peers or professors based on how well students have met their goals for each project. This makes it easier for students to focus on what matters most: learning
The campus is beautiful and conveniently located near downtown LA. It has a beautiful outdoor theater where students can perform their final projects. This allows actors to get an idea of what it will be like to perform on stage as a professional.
The faculty and staff are friendly and helpful to new students who come from all over the world. There are many resources available for students who need help with their classes or just want someone to talk to about life on campus.
CalArts offers many different programs that students can choose from depending on which aspect of acting they want to focus on (such as musical theater or film). All programs include courses in acting technique but also allow students to explore other areas such as dance or set design depending on what they’re interested in learning more about at the moment!
calarts portfolio requirements
Art
Before applying, please make sure to familiarize yourself with the Art Program, faculty, facilities, curriculum and view student work. Please note that you must complete all Admissions Requirements as well as the portfolio requirements to be considered for admission.
BFA and MFA Program in Art Application Guidelines
In addition to the general application requirements (online application and application fees, artist statement, two letters of recommendation and transcripts), Program in Art applicants must also submit a portfolio. The faculty is interested in what motivates or inspires each individual applicant and looks for evidence of this in both the portfolio and the artist statement.
MFA Interviews
Applicants who have passed the preliminary selection process will be notified in mid-February . At that time, candidates will be invited to visit CalArts in March for an interview and to meet faculty and students. The interview is required of invited candidates and is an important component of the final selection process. Video chat interviews are available in exceptional cases, however we like to emphasize the importance of having an in-person interview as part of the application process for prospective students. Additionally, it gives you an opportunity to see the school and meet and talk to the faculty.
Portfolio Guidelines (BFA, MFA)
We want to know what your artistic interests are and how that manifests in your practice. Your work can be in any medium; in fact we encourage applicants with multiple interests to submit a variety of work. In order for your portfolio to be seriously considered by the faculty committee and in order to produce the most advantageous presentation, it is important to follow the guidelines. Please read through the requirements carefully. Direct any questions to your Assistant Director of Admissions.
- Your portfolio must be submitted through the portfolio section of the CalArts application, and should include approximately 15-20 works representative of your most recent or current work. Some sketches and works-in-progress are acceptable. Drawings or paintings created digitally are accepted, however if your practice has physical elements it is to your advantage to also include a selection of work done directly with physical materials or methods.
- IMPORTANT: Do not submit a pre-formatted portfolio or composited images. Submit separate images of individual works. Pre-formatted portfolios (composited images) do not provide an acceptable presentation of your artwork and are highly discouraged. Do not submit composited images, PDFs, or links to websites, and please make sure that the image fills the slide. Otherwise, we will not be able to view the work.
- Enter any captions, descriptions, or titles of your work in the fields provided in the portfolio upload tool. Do not add captions, descriptions, titles or other extraneous text within the area where you upload your image.
- We are looking for personal work that gives us a sense of who you are as an artist, rather than technical exercises (i.e. please do not include generic class assignments, figure/life drawing, still life drawings) unless you believe they offer a view of a personal and/or unique approach.
- CalArts does not offer a program in Illustration.The School of Art offers both undergraduate (BFA) and graduate (MFA) programs in Art, Graphic Design, and Photography and Media and a graduate-degree program in Art & Technology (MFA only). The School of Film/Video offers programs in Character Animation and Experimental Animation
Artist Statement
There is not a minimum or maximum word count requirement, but it is recommended that your statement be between 500 and 1,000 words. An artist statement is very important in the admissions process and should answer the following three questions:
- What are your artistic interests/goals?
- What informs your art-making practice? (Ideas, research, ways of making, and so on.)
- Why are you applying to your program at CalArts?
Video Introduction
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a 30-90 second video introduction. We would very much like to meet you and since this would be impossible in practical terms, we ask that you send a brief video introducing yourself. We would like you to specifically talk about your influences and interests, to discuss a particular image or artwork in your portfolio, rather than provide personal facts.
- Duration: minimum of 30 seconds, maximum of 90 seconds.
- Speak directly to the camera.
- No edits.
- No special effects or on-screen overlays.
- File should be uploaded or linked directly in your portfolio.
- Does not require professional-level equipment; cell phone cameras are okay.
Calarts is a pretty consistent producer of working artists. Their alumni are often used in the movies and shows you watch, and you didn’t even know it. However, with the rising costs of tuition, you have to be aware that Cal Arts isn’t for everyone — but when you do get in, there’s a very high chance that this is the school for you.
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