The California College of the Arts (CCA) is set to close its doors for good in 2027, a decision stemming from ongoing struggles with dwindling enrollment numbers and a significant $20 million deficit. In a noteworthy development, Vanderbilt University from Nashville has announced plans to acquire CCA’s recently expanded campus in San Francisco, along with its previous properties in Oakland.
David Howse, the president of CCA, expressed the gravity of this situation in a message posted on the college’s website on January 13. He noted, "This was not a decision we reached lightly, and we expect there may be feelings of shock, frustration, and disappointment." Howse further detailed that after nearly two years of attempting to address the financial issues plaguing the college, it became clear that this closure was necessary.
Following the acquisition, Vanderbilt intends to transform the former CCA facilities in San Francisco into a West Coast satellite campus that will serve around 1,000 students enrolled in both undergraduate and graduate programs, including art and design disciplines. Vanderbilt's plans also encompass the Oakland campus, which CCA occupied from 1922 until 2022; however, specific future uses for that property have yet to be determined.
Among its diverse offerings in ceramics, fashion design, sculpture, textiles, painting, drawing, and curatorial practices, one of CCA's standout features has been its contemporary art center, the CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts. A representative from the college informed The Art Newspaper that the Wattis will continue its operations post-closure under a new initiative called the "CCA Institute at Vanderbilt," which aims to preserve CCA's archival resources and maintain connections with its alumni. Notable alumni include contemporary artists like Jules de Balincourt, Toyin Ojih Odutola, and Hank Willis Thomas.
In his announcement regarding the impending closure at the conclusion of the 2026-27 academic year, Howse reassured that the 484 students expected to graduate by that time will be allowed to complete their degrees. Furthermore, CCA plans to collaborate closely with accredited institutions to create pathways for students whose studies extend beyond spring 2027. This might necessitate relocating to schools located farther away, especially since, as Howse pointed out, "CCA is the only remaining private art-and-design institution in the Bay Area."
As per KQED reports, during the previous autumn semester, CCA welcomed a total of 207 undergraduate and 117 graduate students. Several prominent private universities in the region, including the University of California Berkeley, Stanford University, and San Francisco State University, offer competitive programs in fine arts and related fields, posing additional challenges for CCA.
Before the onset of the 2024-25 academic year, Howse convened a meeting with 300 staff and faculty members to discuss the dire financial state of the college, which included a staggering $20 million budget deficit and a reduction in enrollment by one-third compared to its peak in 2019 when around 1,800 full-time students were enrolled. This period followed a $97.5 million renovation of the San Francisco campus, which had integrated activities previously held at the Oakland location. Despite temporarily mitigating the crisis, the measures taken were ultimately insufficient for long-term sustainability.
In his message, Howse acknowledged that, thanks to the generous support from trustees, key private donors, and a $20 million grant from the state of California, the college had momentarily dodged a financial disaster and gained valuable time to strategize for the future. He stated, "And yes, it is true that a series of budget cuts have provided some relief on the expense side. But these measures have proven to be temporary and not sustainable if we are to serve our community effectively."
The announcement of CCA's closure follows the recent shuttering of another renowned Bay Area art institution, the San Francisco Art Institute, which faced similar financial woes and declining enrollment. That school, already in a vulnerable position before the pandemic, ceased operations in 2022 and subsequently filed for bankruptcy the following year. In 2024, Laurene Powell Jobs's nonprofit organization acquired it, and there are plans to reopen it as an unaccredited art school at an undetermined date.
