- - Vanderbilt University acquires the California College of the Arts

Noe Padilla, USA TODAYJanuary 14, 2026 at 7:39 AM

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Vanderbilt University announced on Jan. 13 that it will acquire the California College of the Arts' campus to expand its presence nationwide.

The university plans to establish a full-time undergraduate and graduate academic campus in San Francisco in 2027, following the California College of the Arts' official end of its century-long presence in the city.

This expansion into San Francisco follows similar deals Vanderbilts made in New York City and West Palm Beach, with the goal of becoming "one of the world’s leading centers."

“By establishing a significant full-time presence here, Vanderbilt is expanding the ways our students and faculty engage with the world’s most innovative cities and advancing our core mission of education and discovery,” said Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier in a press release.

Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

Vanderbilt’s plans include serving up to 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students on campus and operating a California College of the Arts Institute at Vanderbilt, which will include the Wattis Institute of Contemporary Arts.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced the acquisition of the private universities during a press conference on Jan. 13 and discussed the city's role in bringing the Tennessee-based university to the West Coast.

"We walked them through our city and toured sites to help them think through what was possible," Lurie said. "We shared all the things that make San Francisco the center of innovation, a hub for creativity and a city on the rise."

"Vanderbilt's decision sends a powerful message. It says that San Francisco remains one of the world's great places to live, to learn and to innovate."

It's unclear at the time of reporting what the terms of the deal between the two universities are.

For years, the California College of the Arts has dealt with financial problems as the university has faced "declining enrollment, (and) CCA’s tuition-driven business model is not sustainable."

The university had previously received donations from private donors and a $20 million grant from the State of California to provide the California College of the Arts with time to address its financial crisis, but ultimately, these measures of support couldn't save the school from closures, University President David Howse said in a press release about the acquisition.

"These measures have proven to be temporary and not sustainable if we are to serve our community effectively," Howe said in the press release. "Ultimately, neither of these are enough to ensure CCA can continue to operate independently. Recognizing that lasting financial independence is out of reach given our current constraints, we have pursued conversations with potential partners over the last year."

The California College of the Arts noted that it will ensure it supports students who are currently on track to complete their degrees by the end of the 2026-2027 academic year. But for students who need additional time to complete their degrees, university leaders stated they will work with accredited institutions to facilitate transfers and ensure students can complete their studies.

Vanderbilt noted that former California College of the Arts students are welcome to attend the new university, but will be required to reapply for Vanderbilt.

Before Vanderbilt can start operating its new campus, it will need to apply for and obtain approval for all necessary steps to operate in California.

"Vanderbilt has been a thoughtful and responsive partner, with a team of people who clearly respect our 120-year legacy and see in it great value for future generations of students," Howse said. "While CCA will not continue to operate past the 2026-2027 academic year, our legacy will not vanish. It will be held and honored by Vanderbilt."

Noe Padilla is a Northern California Reporter for USA Today. Contact him at [email protected], follow him on X @1NoePadilla or on Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.

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