Students who are interested in applying to CSSSA must submit an online application by the deadline of February 28, 2025 at 6:00 PM. Start by creating a profile in our application portal.
Students may apply to more than one department. A fully completed application is needed for each department the student applies to. Students may be accepted into more than one CSSSA department, however, they must commit to one department during the pre-registration/enrollment period. For students who are interested in multiple academic programs, we suggest they consider applying again the following year.
There are eight (8) sections in the CSSSA Application. Expand each section to learn more.
Parent / Guardian Information
Estimated completion time: 3 minutes
This section collects parent / guardian contact information. Parents / guardians are cc’d on all student communications.
- Parent / guardian name (first, last)
- Home phone
- Work phone
- Cell phone
- Email address
School Information
Estimated completion time: 3 minutes
This section collects information on the student’s school and arts background.
- School
- School address
- Availability of arts resources in your school
- Years you have been practicing your arts discipline
Two (2) Teacher References
Estimated completion time: 5 minutes
CSSSA no longer requires letters of recommendation. However, in the event we have a question about your application, we require that you provide the contact information of two (2) teachers.
References can be arts teachers, non-arts teachers, college counselors, school administrators, private instructors, or extracurricular activity leaders. Choose someone who can speak to your ability to succeed in our program. We do not accept peer references.
- Name (first, last)
- Email address
- Phone / Cell
- Relationship
- Organization / School
- Organization / School Address
Required Department Assignments
Estimated completion time: Several days to several weeks
CSSSA offers seven (7) distinct departments. Find out more about each department on our Academic Programs page.
Each department has its own set of assignments that must be completed for your application to be considered:
If you are a returning student, you will also need to submit a Returning Student essay. The purpose of this essay is to reflect on your previous experiences in the program, your growth since attending CSSSA, and your motivations for reapplying.
For assistance with technical issues in the application portal, please contact us at comments@csssa.ca.gov.
Financial Assistance Request
Estimated completion time: 1 hour
This section collects information to assess the family’s financial need and is typically completed by the parent.
Section 1: Parent / guardian information
- Name (first, last)
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Household adjusted gross income (AGI)
- Annual income of parent(s)
- Size of household
Section 2: Student Aid Index (SAI)
- Use the Federal SAI Estimator Tool to calculate your SAI and enter the number in your CSSSA application.
Section 3: Document Upload
- Upload your most recent income tax return (2023 or 2024).
- If you do not file taxes, you may upload other documentation to support your financial aid request, such as pay stubs, public assistance award letters, a written statement attesting to your financial situation, and anything else that may be pertinent.
Section 4: Signature
- Electronic signature certification
- Today’s date
Supplemental Questions
Estimated completion time: 5 minutes
Supplemental questions will not affect how your application is scored and has no bearing on your acceptance to CSSSA.
- Interest in the Summer Bridge Program
- Special Services or accommodations
$20 Application Fee
Estimated completion time: 5 minutes
Fee waivers are available to California residents who can attest to having an economic need.
This non-refundable fee helps to cover administrative costs associated with reviewing and evaluating your application. Accepted forms of payment include credit card, ACH transfer, Alipay and WeChat Pay. CSSSA no longer accepts payment by check or money order.
Important Dates
November 1, 2024
Late January 2025
February 28, 2025
April 30, 2025
Early May, 2025
May 15, 2025
May 30, 2025
Early June 2025
July 5, 2025
July 6, 2025
August 1, 2025
Application Opens
Department-Specific Webinars
CSSSA Application & Scholarship Deadline
CSSSA Acceptance & Scholarship Notification
Invited Students Webinar
Intent to Enroll & Pre-Registration Forms Due
Tuition Payment Due
Department Orientations
Registration Day – CalArts Campus
First Day of Classes
Graduation Day – CalArts Campus