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. Read the full announcement.

We understand you may have many questions and have included detailed Q&As below for alumni. For other questions not addressed here, please submit via our Google Form.

Protecting your academic history is our highest priority. You do not need to rush to order mass copies of your transcripts right now; your permanent records will remain securely archived and fully accessible after the college concludes operations. Following the conclusion of the 2026–27 academic year, official transcripts and credential verifications will be managed and issued by Vanderbilt. More information will be posted closer to CCA’s date of closure.

Until CCA closes, alumni should continue to request official transcripts through the college’s current transcript request process⁠.

Yes. Your degree is a permanent academic credential. You will not receive a replacement diploma or any new credential. Your original CCA degree remains your permanent and valid 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.

We are fully committed to keeping our alumni community informed, connected, and supported throughout every phase of this transition. Here is how you can stay updated, manage your information, and get in touch with us:

• Updating your contact information: To ensure you do not miss critical updates regarding the transition, your academic records, or upcoming events planned by the CCA Legacy Committee, please submit your current email and mailing address via [email protected].
• Staying informed: Regular, official updates will be published to portal.cca.edu/transition.

While traditional physical campus benefits will change when the 2026-27 academic year concludes, Vanderbilt and CCA are actively partnering to plan meaningful continued opportunities for CCA alumni to stay connected to one another and to the CCA legacy, including through the future CCA Institute at Vanderbilt University, which will be located at the Vanderbilt University-San Francisco campus. This information will be posted on portal.cca.edu/transition.

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.

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.

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

Additional questions? Submit using this Google Form.