The California Institute of the Arts is one of the most unusual and most influential art schools in the world. Founded in 1961 by Walt Disney and his brother Roy with the explicit mission of creating a school where all artistic disciplines could interact freely, CalArts has shaped animation, experimental film, fine arts, music, and theater in ways that no other institution has. For Korean students considering CalArts, understanding what the school actually is — its culture, its programs, its demands, and its career outcomes — is essential.
What CalArts Is: A Total Arts Institution
CalArts is not primarily an art school in the conventional sense. It is a total arts institution — a school where visual arts, performing arts, music, theater, dance, and film coexist and interact as intended creative communities. The founding vision was Walt Disney’s: a school modeled on his vision of the ideal working artists’ community, where creative people from different disciplines would live, work, and inspire each other.
This vision produces a specific culture at CalArts: students do not exist in departmental silos. A character animation student might collaborate with a composer from the music school on a film scored by a music student and performed in REDCAT by theater students. This interdisciplinary culture is genuine — not a marketing claim — and it produces artists who work across conventional disciplinary boundaries.
Key institutional facts:
- Founded: 1961 (by Walt and Roy Disney)
- Location: Valencia, California (30 miles north of Los Angeles)
- Total enrollment: approximately 1,500 students
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
- Six schools: Art, Film/Video, Music, Theater, Dance, Critical Studies
- Acceptance rate: approximately 25–32% overall (program-specific varies widely)
The Six Schools
School of Art: Fine Arts programs including Drawing/Painting, Photography and Media, Program in Art (interdisciplinary), Graphic Design, and others. Among the most experimentally oriented fine arts programs in the United States.
School of Film/Video: Character Animation (the most famous program), Experimental Animation, Film/Video (narrative and experimental), and Film Directing. The Character Animation program has produced some of the most influential directors and animators in Hollywood history.
School of Music: Jazz, Classical (Performance, Composition), Experimental Sound Practices — world-class music programs that interact with the arts programs.
School of Theater: Acting, Directing, Design & Technology for Theater — professional theater training in the CalArts tradition.
School of Dance: Multidisciplinary dance training.
School of Critical Studies: Liberal arts writing, creative writing, and critical studies programs — the academic core that connects all six schools.
The Application: What CalArts Evaluates
Portfolio: Primary evaluation criterion, program-specific. Character Animation requires life drawing, character design, storyboards, and animation work. Fine Arts requires experimental and conceptually developed work. Each program has distinct portfolio expectations.
Artist statement: Required for all programs. CalArts specifically asks applicants to discuss the issues and concerns that inform their art-making practice, their reasons for applying to CalArts, and their artistic goals. This statement carries significant weight.
Letters of recommendation: Required. CalArts recommends letters from people who can speak about your artistic development and readiness for college-level work.
English proficiency: Required for international students. No fixed minimum TOEFL score, but proof of proficiency is required.
No SAT/ACT required: CalArts does not consider standardized test scores.
The Financial Reality
| Component | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | ~$52,850 |
| Housing (on campus) | ~$11,000–$13,000 |
| Dining | ~$5,000 |
| Books and supplies | ~$2,500 |
| Total estimated | ~$71,000–$73,000/year |
CalArts awards merit scholarships starting at $10,000/year to the top 30% of students. 98% of first-year students qualify for some form of financial aid, with the bulk coming from grants and scholarships. International students are eligible for institutional scholarships (no separate application required — scholarship consideration is part of the admissions review).
For Korean Students: CalArts as a Destination
CalArts attracts Korean students primarily in two directions:
- Character Animation: The most career-specific path, with the direct Disney/Pixar/DreamWorks pipeline
- Fine Arts / Graphic Design: The most experimentally oriented equivalent to RISD or SAIC programs
The school’s suburban Valencia location means it is a different geographic experience from New York-based schools — more campus-contained, more community-intensive, and more focused on the creative community itself rather than urban access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CalArts only for animation students? No. CalArts is a complete arts institution with world-class music, theater, dance, and fine arts programs. Animation is the most famous program, but it is one of many.
Is CalArts very far from Los Angeles? CalArts is in Valencia, approximately 30 miles north of central Los Angeles. This is a 30–60 minute drive depending on traffic. Many studios (Disney, Pixar when in production, DreamWorks) are in Burbank or Glendale — 20–30 miles from CalArts. Students who intern at studios during their studies typically arrange transportation or temporary housing near the studio.
What TOEFL score does CalArts require? CalArts does not publish a fixed minimum. A TOEFL iBT of 80 or above is generally sufficient; higher scores are advisable for students whose program requires significant written or verbal communication.
Royal Blue Art & Design는 압구정에 위치한 유학미술학원으로, 19년간 한국 학생들의 RISD, Parsons, CalArts 등 미국 최상위 미술대학 입시를 도와왔습니다. [상담 문의하기 →]