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California Institute of Arts & Technology

#2204 in US ranking National City, CA
Type:
Private for-profit
Programs:
4 years or more

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Cost

Cost / year
$47,052
Tuition & fees
$17,090
Avg. aid
$7,847
Receiving aid
60%

Outcomes

Graduation rate
56%
Median salary
$46,826
1 yr after graduation

What is the accreditation of California Institute of Arts & Technology?

CIAT lists the Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) as its institutional accreditor. Institutional accreditation applies to the school as a whole; it is different from accreditation of an individual technology program or approval for a particular professional license.

Accreditation is relevant to institutional oversight and may be one condition of federal student-aid eligibility, but a student's aid eligibility also depends on the program and the student's circumstances. Likewise, another college decides whether to accept CIAT credits. Applicants should verify current institutional status in ACCET's directory and ask about any program-specific recognition needed for their intended occupation.

What are the admission requirements at California Institute of Arts & Technology?

CIAT reports an open-admission policy for eligible applicants, rather than a selective admission process based on a published acceptance rate. Degree-seeking entrants must establish that they have completed high school or an equivalent credential; a GED is one route for applicants who did not earn a diploma.

An applicant should be prepared to complete the institution's application and provide documentation of prior education. Open admission does not remove program eligibility rules or the need to complete enrollment and financial-aid steps. Confirm the current program's start dates, documentation requirements, and any technical prerequisites with admissions. Do not assume that SAT or ACT scores, essays, or recommendations are required unless the current application specifically requests them.

What are the application fees and waivers at California Institute of Arts & Technology?

Applicants should verify any current application fee directly in CIAT's admissions materials before submitting an application. A published tuition or required-fee figure does not establish what, if anything, the school charges to apply.

If an application lists a charge, ask whether a fee waiver is available and whether it must be approved before submission. Keep application charges separate from enrollment deposits, course fees, and tuition when comparing schools.

What types of ROTC programs are available at California Institute of Arts & Technology?

Students should not assume that CIAT operates an Army, Navy, or Air Force ROTC unit. No branch-specific on-campus unit or cross-enrollment arrangement is established here.

Someone interested in ROTC should ask a prospective host university whether CIAT students are eligible to cross-enroll before planning a schedule around it. ROTC participation and scholarships involve separate eligibility rules and, for students who contract, potential military service obligations. Military education benefits used to pay for college are not the same thing as ROTC participation.

What are the requirements for transfer students at California Institute of Arts & Technology?

CIAT generally accepts transfer credit from other accredited institutions, but admission as a transfer student does not mean every prior course will count toward a CIAT credential. Its reported transfer-in enrollment was 253 degree- or certificate-seeking undergraduates in 2024-25.

Transfer applicants should provide official records of previous college work and request a program-specific, written credit evaluation. That evaluation should identify which credits satisfy required courses, which count only as electives, and how many credits remain. CIAT also reports accepting Advanced Placement credit, while not awarding credit for life experience or dual credit; applicants should confirm how those policies apply to their intended program.

What types of study abroad programs are available at California Institute of Arts & Technology?

Study abroad should not be assumed to be part of CIAT's technology programs. Students interested in an overseas course, internship, or third-party program need approval before enrolling elsewhere if they expect the work to count toward a CIAT credential.

The essential questions are whether a proposed course meets a specific degree requirement, whether its credits can transfer, and whether the student's financial aid can be used for that arrangement. Approval to travel or enroll with another provider is not the same as approval for academic credit.

California Institute of Arts & Technology First-Year Students

Where first-year students come from

In-state: 47
Out-of-state: 113

Freshmen vs. transfer students

Freshmen: 160
Transfer: 253

California Institute of Arts & Technology Admission Requirements

High school completions

General Educational Development (GED) required

Open admission policy

Yes

Dual credit

No

Credit for life experiences

No

Advanced placement (AP) credits

Yes

Special learning opportunities

Study abroad

No

Student can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization

No

Preparation at another institution required

No

Approved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher

No

California Institute of Arts & Technology Transfer Acceptance Rate

Accept ACE recommendation for credit

Yes

Data last updated on November 2, 2026

Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026

Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.