California College of the Arts vs Goucher College

California College of the Arts and Goucher College are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Goucher College is more selective with a 72.9% acceptance rate compared to California College of the Arts's 73.4%.

Cost: Goucher College offers a lower average net price at $23,774, which is $18,394 less than California College of the Arts ($42,168). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Goucher College earn a median salary of $53,023 ten years after enrollment, which is $3,609 more than California College of the Arts graduates ($49,414).

Graduation: California College of the Arts leads with a 65.7% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 57.4% vs 76.6%.

Campus Size: California College of the Arts is the larger campus with 1,004 total students, while Goucher College has 948.

Bottom Line: Goucher College stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.