California College of the Arts

The California College of the Arts (CCA) was established in 1907 by German designer Frederick Meyer, who wanted to create an institution that integrated theory and practice in the arts to provide a leading education for artists.

Originally founded in Berkeley, today there are two CCA campuses for the 2,000 students currently enrolled. The Oakland campus hosts the CCA’s Center for Art and Public Life and is also the main undergraduate campus, home to the First Year Program and first-year halls of residence. Around half an hour away is the San Francisco campus, which hosts the graduate programs as well as some undergraduate subject fields.

With a primary focus on the practice and study of art, design, writing and architecture, this private coeducational institution offers 22 undergraduate and 13 graduate majors in a range of studies, often led by experts in their individual fields.

It is considered by many, including PayScale, BusinessWeek and US News and World Report, to be among the best art and design schools in the United States.

Some of the college faculty and alumni have become incredibly influential in art movements of recent years. Ceramicists Robert Arneson, Viola Frey and Peter Voulkos were all integral to the emergence of the 1960s ceramics movement, while Hong Kong-born film director Wayne Wang is responsible for some incredibly popular films of the past few decades, including Maid in Manhattan, The Joy Luck Club and Last Holiday. 

Nathan Oliveira, a Portuguese painter, is also among CCA’s most notable alumni, having been the subject of hundreds of solo and group exhibitions across the world.