Kansas City Art Institute
- Graduation Rate
- 62% C+
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $37,032 C-
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $27,650 D
- 61% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 55% B+
- Selective, but achievable with strong credentials
Bottom line: A D+ overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $11.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,158,643.
What The Data Says
-
A D+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Every $1 invested returns $11.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Kansas City Art Institute Matters
Kansas City Art Institute is a private special-focus institution in Kansas City, MO and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 812
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Kansas City Art Institute
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 55% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $27,650 a year after grants and scholarships — 61% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $37,032 ten years after enrolling — 9% below the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 100% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.63 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 812 students, Kansas City Art Institute stands out for those who are passionate about visual and performing arts. It appeals to creative individuals looking for a focused environment where they can cultivate their talents in areas like fine arts, graphic design, and photography. The 55% acceptance rate means that while there’s a competitive edge, many aspiring artists can find their place here.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $37,032 within ten years. This gives a solid indication of the financial potential graduates can tap into, especially in creative fields. The affordability factor is also worth noting; with a net price of $27,650, it’s accessible to many, particularly since 44% of students receive Pell Grants, helping to ease the financial burden for those who need it most.
When it comes to the bottom line, the median debt of $27,000 is manageable for many graduates, especially considering the earning potential. This school tends to attract dedicated students who thrive in an artistic atmosphere, collaborating with like-minded peers and faculty who understand the value of creativity in education. For those drawn to the arts, Kansas City Art Institute can be a nurturing place to develop their craft and launch their careers.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Kansas City Art Institute is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kansas City Art Institute? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Kansas City Art Institute, located in Kansas City, Missouri, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 55%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 46%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,886
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 10:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.59
- First-Gen Students
- 21%
- Applicants
- 990
- Admitted
- 579
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kansas City Art Institute? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kansas City Art Institute is $44,550, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,650. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,293 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $44,550
- Out-of-State
- $44,550
- Avg Net Price
- $27,650
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 44%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 69%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $26,293
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $25,105
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $27,663
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,840
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Kansas City Art Institute Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kansas City Art Institute report median earnings of $37,032, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $25,529
- 8 Years
- $34,132
- 10 Years
- $37,032
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.73x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (61)
- 46%
- 100% (61)
- 46%
- 100% (61)
- 46%
- 100% (61)
- 46%
How Kansas Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Kansas City Art Institute Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Kansas City Art Institute delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $27,650/year ($110,600 total). Graduates earn $37,032 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,269,243 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,158,643 (11.5× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $110,600
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,269,243
- Net Return
- $1,158,643
- ROI Multiple
- 11.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $27,650
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Kansas City Art Institute Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Kansas City Art Institute is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.01%, a more modest figure. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 0.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.01%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 0.2%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $98,500
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,598,985
- Investment Income
- $-7,864,046
Top Programs
The fields Kansas City Art Institute awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Kansas City Art Institute's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Animator$86,120 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Interior Designer$62,510 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Museum Curator$59,880 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Graphic Designer$58,910 · 3% growthVulnerable 48
- D+Photographer$40,760 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Kansas City Art Institute? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Kansas City Art Institute, located in Kansas City, Missouri, offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 55% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Kansas City Art Institute? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Kansas City Art Institute is $44,550, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $27,650. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $26,293 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Kansas City Art Institute Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Kansas City Art Institute report median earnings of $37,032, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Kansas City Art Institute Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Kansas City Art Institute is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.01%, a more modest figure. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 0.2% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Kansas City Art Institute? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kansas City Art Institute. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Kansas City Art Institute.
- Toccoa Falls CollegeToccoa Falls, GA · Close peer45% grad $36,630 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
- Moore College of Art and DesignPhiladelphia, PA · Close peer60% grad $37,839 earn 56% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cleveland Institute of ArtCleveland, OH · Close peer62% grad $42,509 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Hallmark UniversitySan Antonio, TX · Close peer67% grad $40,183 earn 51% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Minneapolis College of Art and DesignMinneapolis, MN · Close peer59% grad $40,873 earn 48% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Valley ForgePhoenixville, PA · Close peer52% grad $39,016 earn 61% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Kansas City Art Institute? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Kansas City Art Institute. Its economic connectedness score is 1.63, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 12% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note