California College of the Arts (CCA), a venerable institution with a 119-year history, will transition under Vanderbilt University’s umbrella at the close of the 2026-27 academic year. Founded in Oakland in 1907 and later relocated to San Francisco, CCA will cease to admit new students starting next year to address declining enrollment and financial challenges.
Details of the Transition
Vanderbilt University will acquire CCA’s Design District campus, implementing new undergraduate and graduate programs. The terms of the acquisition remain undisclosed. According to CCA’s president, David Howse, the institution’s declining enrollment has forced it to face the limitations of a tuition-reliant financial model.
Financial Struggles
CCA has faced notable financial challenges in recent years. In 2024, the college invested $123 million in updating its San Francisco campus while consolidating it with the Oakland location. Despite these efforts, the institution reported a budget deficit of $20 million due to enrollment drops.
- Emergency funds received: $45 million
- Significant donation from Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia: $22.5 million
- Additional state grant: $20 million
These donations, while initially encouraging, proved insufficient for CCA’s long-term stability and independence.
Impact on the Arts Community
The news of CCA’s acquisition was met with shock among faculty. Additionally, this trend reflects a broader crisis in San Francisco’s arts landscape, characterized by recent closures of other significant institutions.
- 2022: San Francisco Art Institute closed due to financial issues.
- 2024: Mills College absorbed by Northeastern University, with cuts to arts programs.
- Future project: California Academy of Studio Arts, backed by Laurene Powell Jobs.
Plans for the Future
Vanderbilt intends to uphold CCA’s legacy in the Bay Area. They plan to establish the California College of the Arts Institute at Vanderbilt and preserve its notable museum, the Wattis Institute of Contemporary Arts. The merged institution is expected to have around 1,000 students, with approximately 750 living on campus.
Community and Leadership Support
During a recent press conference, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie emphasized the importance of the Vanderbilt acquisition in revitalizing downtown. The city had considered several institutions for collaboration, with Vanderbilt emerging as the most suitable partner.
Amid discussions for future fundraising efforts involving prominent local and philanthropic figures, CCA’s path forward remains uncertain. This evolving story about the transition from CCA to Vanderbilt will continue to develop. As the situation unfolds, further updates will be provided through El-Balad.
