California College of the Arts campus to become new Vanderbilt University site in San Francisco

California College of the Arts will become the basis for a new academic campus after Vanderbilt University announced plans to expand its national footprint with a full campus in San Francisco beginning in 2027, subject to regulatory approvals. The university also confirmed plans for a graduate campus in West Palm Beach, continuing a broader strategy of geographic expansion beyond its home base in Nashville. This is reported by San Francisco News, citing festival organisers and News Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt said the planned San Francisco campus is expected to serve around 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students and support sustained faculty, staff and academic activity. The initiative builds on the university’s recent expansions in New York City and West Palm Beach and is intended to embed Vanderbilt’s academic model in one of the world’s leading centers of technology, creativity and entrepreneurship.

Agreement with California College of the Arts

As part of the expansion, Vanderbilt and California College of the Arts have agreed that Vanderbilt will acquire the CCA campus following the wind-down of CCA’s operations after the 2026–27 academic year. Vanderbilt said this approach allows academic use of the site to continue while recognizing CCA’s long-standing role in the Bay Area.

The university plans to operate a California College of the Arts Institute at Vanderbilt, which will include the Wattis Institute of Contemporary Arts. According to the announcement, Vanderbilt will also maintain CCA’s archival materials, support exhibitions and public programs linked to contemporary art, and provide a framework for continued alumni engagement connected to CCA’s legacy.

Vanderbilt’s academic vision for San Francisco

Vanderbilt said the San Francisco campus will reflect its emphasis on interdisciplinary education and real-world engagement. Academic programming remains in development and will be subject to faculty review and approval by accrediting and regulatory bodies.

The university said its model in San Francisco will integrate engineering, entrepreneurship and design with a strong foundation in the arts, humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. The aim is to combine creative practice and analytical research, preparing students for professional, civic and cultural impact in the Bay Area and beyond.

Statements from university and city leaders

Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said San Francisco provides a distinctive environment for education at the intersection of innovation and creativity. He said establishing a full-time presence would expand how Vanderbilt students and faculty engage with global innovation centers while advancing the university’s mission of education and discovery. Diermeier also said Vanderbilt is committed to honoring the creative legacy built by the CCA community over more than a century.

San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie described the decision as a long-term investment in the city. He said Vanderbilt’s presence would contribute to a city core where people live, work, play and learn, while carrying forward CCA’s tradition of educating creative leaders.

Local impact and expectations

San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey said the initiative represents a generational investment for surrounding neighborhoods, including Showplace Square and District 6. He pointed to opportunities for collaboration across technology, design and life sciences, supported by Vanderbilt’s capacity to sustain long-term teaching and research activity.

What happens next for CCA and Vanderbilt

California College of the Arts plans to continue instruction through the 2026–27 academic year, allowing current students to complete or progress in their programs. Vanderbilt said it is committed to supporting CCA during this transition period.

CCA Board Chair Dr. Calvin Wheeler said the agreement reflects both the challenges facing the institution and the opportunity to preserve its legacy. He said that, given CCA’s financial constraints, the agreement with Vanderbilt offers a path to carry forward nearly 120 years of arts and design education in the Bay Area.

Vanderbilt expects to open its San Francisco campus for students in the 2027–28 academic year, pending all necessary approvals. Further details on facilities, faculty participation and academic programs will be announced as planning advances and coordination with the City of San Francisco continues.

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