The academic calendar is divided into semesters. Most of the college's faculty are part-time. All undergraduates complete a core program in two- and three-dimensional art before deciding on a major. Students also need to take courses in humanities and sciences in order to graduate, and some students take advantage of cross-registration opportunities with nearby Mills and Holy Names colleges. The California College of Arts and Crafts awards the bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramics, drawing, film and video studies, furniture and wood, glass, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, interior architecture design, metal arts and jewelry, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, and textiles. Many of these areas are likewise available at the master's level, and the ceramics graduate program is ranked among the best in the United States. The college also has a five-year program leading to the bachelor of architecture degree. In addition, enrichment courses are available for high school students and art educators.

The college's extracurricular activities tend to center around the arts. Student exhibitions take place weekly. Many students participate in art-related community projects. Student organizations include the Women's Caucus for the Arts and student chapters of various professional societies. Visiting artists and critics regularly hold lectures and seminars. The college's proximity to San Francisco provides additional cultural and social opportunities.