CCA will wind down its current operations and will close by the end of the 2026-27 academic year. Vanderbilt will then become the owner of the campus and will establish undergraduate and graduate programming, including art and design programs, at the campus. To read the full announcement, visit cca.edu.

We understand you may have many questions and have included detailed Q&As below for alumni. For other questions not addressed here, please email questions@cca.edu.

No. You will not receive a replacement diploma or any new credential. Your original CCA degree remains your permanent and valid credential.

Following CCA's closure in 2027, Vanderbilt University will become the official custodian of CCA’s academic records. Vanderbilt will manage degree verification and transcript requests for former CCA students, facilitating continued access to records for alumni.

While current students should continue to use Workday, CCA will maintain its partnership with Parchment for long-term, digital transcript fulfillment. After CCA closes in 2027, Vanderbilt University, as the official custodian of records, will oversee the management and availability of these academic documents.

Yes. Your degree is a permanent academic credential. CCA remains a fully accredited institution through the conclusion of operations by the end of the 2026-27 academic year. Degrees conferred by the college are valid for life and will continue to be recognized by employers, licensing boards, and other educational institutions.

Vanderbilt will serve as the custodian for student academic records after the college closes. Specific instructions on how to request transcripts after the college closes will be provided on the college website and shared via alumni communications.

The college is exploring ways to maintain the vibrant alumni network and preserve its history within the framework of the new CCA Institute at Vanderbilt. While some current campus-based benefits may change after the college closes, the goal is to provide a sense of community for our thousands of graduates worldwide.

Alumni are encouraged to visit the college website for the most up-to-date information. You may also find it helpful to review the Student, Parent, and Faculty FAQs to understand the full scope of the academic continuity plan.

Vanderbilt will honor CCA’s century-long legacy in the Bay Area in numerous ways, including plans to operate a California College of the Arts Institute at Vanderbilt, which will include the Wattis Institute of Contemporary Arts. Vanderbilt will also support exhibitions and presentations on contemporary art and other topics that honor CCA’s historical significance, will maintain the college’s archival materials, and will serve as a vehicle for CCA alumni engagement.

CCA has secured an agreement with a fellow AICAD school to take over the administration and continued oversight of SEVIS records for CCA alumni who are on active OPT or active STEM OPT in June 2027. We have confirmed with SEVP that this agreement meets their current policy for allowing F-1 students on active OPT and active STEM OPT to meet their STEM OPT reporting requirements and continue their work authorization benefit without interruption.

As we get closer to CCA’s closure date, if you do not want your CCA SEVIS record moved to the AICAD partner school, you must inform ISS, and we will follow up with you directly about your plans and next steps.

Updated 3/12/2026

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