California College of the Arts (CCA) - San Francisco, California

Jessica Ayran

CCA is a solid art school, imo. I attended from ‘11-‘16 and 75% don’t completely regret it. It’s very expensive, however you have access to great facilities, new technologies/machines, and talented creatives. Teachers are young over-achievers that inspire and grow alongside the incoming bright minds that pass through these halls. Architecture is difficult and you technically kind of learn everything on your own. I recommend learning basic building construction and drafting before arriving. Here, it’s all about experimentation and exploring new forms/ideologies or questioning the conventional. Also, materials are expensive. [ for the mid-class or lower (like myself), I recommend ordering drafting/tech specs beforehand online (Aliexpress, Newegg/FB marketplace). ]

Gabriela Saez

If I could give them a minus star, I would be happy to do that. Do not waste your time nor your money, this so called "art school" is good for nothing. From teachers to admins, everything is a constant unpleasant situation to deal with. Teachers really DO NOT TEACH anything, students have to find out and learn everything mostly by themselves; teachers are stuck up, they thing they are the biggest deal and that the students are nothing unless they get to have a favorite one. None of the students here study and work, most of them come from rich families that pay for them to do "something in life" and that something will certainly be nothing because hardly one gets to have a decent, paying job after being ripped off for years.

For rich people this is certainly not important but not for poor or middle class people that want to advance in life and make big efforts to get loans and on top of that pay monthly tuition. We ended up investing about $85,000 for a basically useless degree.

They break their student's spirit, they belittle, ignore, degrade them; make them feel they are not entitled to any success if they are not the star of the class. My child worked extremely, extremely hard to try to make his dream come true but ended up completely sick and hopeless.

Lastly, teachers steal student's ideas and nothing you can do about it because they have students sign an agreement before beginning of classes. First they tell them that those ideas are worthless, of course.

Look for better options. California is full of excellent and transparent schools, colleges and universities let CCA out, it isn't worth it !!!

J Schaefer

When I attended back in the late 1970's it was CCAC. Great 2 years of my life ( I attended 2 years at UCSB prior to CCAC) Loved the teachers, administration and knowledge I gained. Had a 35 year career in graphic design following my graduation. Yes, it was expensive even back then, but I worked and paid my way through, totally worth it. I cannot speak to today, but back in the day it was amazing.

Christian Hawkins (C. Grey Hawkins)

This is a soulless school, with excellent faculty sprinkled occasionally throughout. They present a great and forward thinking image on the outside, and on the inside try to cheat students and faculty alike. Their first priority is outside appearance, and one of their last is the students. Trying to get things fixed here when they inevitably screw up your schedule or take away your scholarship or any number of other things mid-semester is like going to the DMV, if the DMV was worse than it already is and charged you $30-45 thousand a year. This is a greedy institution so disorganized their financial aid documents even say "Please return to the Financial Aid Office by 12/31/1967." CCA is only slightly better than Academy of Art University in terms of being concerned about your education experience or personal well-being. Go somewhere else.

Weston Grimmly

I had many friends go here, not all finished. All I can say is do your research and don't delude yourself with unrealistic expectations.
Art is from the heart, CCA struck me as restrictive and corporate.
Poor response to trans-phobia and racism. But an amazing assortment of cutting edge equipment...sooooo...Opportunity cost?

justin son

In order to afford the outrageous tuition, students (who are mostly self supporting) take out massive loans under the misled impression that they will have any hope of making any money once they graduate. They are leading a lot of students right off the cliff in that sense and I think it's criminal. They also grossly underpay their staff and faculty and it shows in the general demeanor; people are generally disgruntled and burned out.

Yousef Alkhattali

I am Yousef Ahmed Siad, from Libya. I was in Ohio, USA in 1976, then I moved to Oakland, California in 1978, to enrolled in California College of Arts and Crafts, where I have enjoyed acquiring most sublime refinement and immense intellect. I did not learn only about art but more about life. Al Khattali is only a Berber family name, which was not officially inscribed in my passport.

Paul Steffen

Knockout faculty and up and coming artists and designers make for great exhibits and critiques. Lots of knockout curated exhibits, visiting artists and lecturers.