California College of the Arts Closes as Vanderbilt Acquires Campuses

California College of the Arts announced on January 13, 2026 that it will close after the 2026–2027 school year, and Vanderbilt University will acquire its San Francisco and Oakland campuses. President David Howse cited declining enrollment and an unsustainable tuition-based model despite $65 million in 2025 donations and a prior $20 million deficit. The move transfers institutional assets to Vanderbilt and displaces students and Bay Area arts programming.