School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Graduation Rate
- 65% C+
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,151 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $49,790 F
- 191% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 7.4× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $7.4 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $7.4 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,269,254.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $7.4 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why School of the Art Institute of Chicago Matters
School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private special-focus institution in Chicago, IL and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: durable upward mobility for the students it enrolls.
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
- 2,805
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, English & Literature
Why students choose School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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 77% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $49,790 a year after grants and scholarships — 191% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,151 ten years after enrolling — 2% below the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 28% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has an acceptance rate of 77%, making it accessible to a wide range of creative students. With an enrollment of 2,805, it fosters a vibrant artistic community in one of the nation's largest cities. This school attracts those passionate about visual and performing arts, as well as literature.
After ten years, graduates earn an average of $40,151 annually. However, only 19% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a lower percentage of students from low-income backgrounds. The graduation rate sits at 65%, which suggests that while many students begin their artistic journeys here, a notable number do not complete their degrees.
The net price of attendance stands at $49,790, with a median debt of $27,000. This financial landscape emphasizes the importance of planning for costs. Students who thrive often have a clear artistic vision and a commitment to their craft. The urban setting of Chicago serves as a backdrop for hands-on experience and networking opportunities in the arts.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, School of the Art Institute of Chicago admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 84%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 22%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,628
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 11:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- First-Gen Students
- 21%
- Applicants
- 6,075
- Admitted
- 4,797
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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at School of the Art Institute of Chicago is $56,420, 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 $49,790. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $43,798 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $56,420
- Out-of-State
- $56,420
- Avg Net Price
- $49,790
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 37%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $43,798
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $39,845
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $46,708
- Family Income $110K+
- $55,790
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is School of the Art Institute of Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of School of the Art Institute of Chicago report median earnings of $40,151, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $26,742
- 8 Years
- $31,846
- 10 Years
- $40,151
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.67x
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (290)
- 49%
- 100% (290)
- 49%
- 100% (290)
- 49%
- 100% (290)
- 49%
How School 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, School of the Art Institute of Chicago delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $49,790/year ($199,160 total). Graduates earn $40,151 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,468,414 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,269,254 (7.4× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 65% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $199,160
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,468,414
- Net Return
- $1,269,254
- ROI Multiple
- 7.4×
- Cost Per Year
- $49,790
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 65%
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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.99%, well above the typical college. About 7.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.99%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 26.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $143,745
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $5,878,453
Top Programs
The fields School of the Art Institute of Chicago awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 98% $26,368 early-career
- English & Literature 2% $32,735 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for School of the Art Institute of Chicago'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
- CCollege Professor$84,380 · 8% growthResilient 96
- D+Technical Writer$80,050 · 4% growthVulnerable 48
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Content Strategist$78,000 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Copywriter$73,150 · 4% growthVulnerable 48
- C-PR Specialist$67,440 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into School of the Art Institute of Chicago? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Chicago, Illinois, School of the Art Institute of Chicago admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. The graduation rate is roughly 65%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at School of the Art Institute of Chicago is $56,420, 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 $49,790. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $43,798 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is School of the Art Institute of Chicago Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of School of the Art Institute of Chicago report median earnings of $40,151, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does School of the Art Institute of Chicago Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.99%, well above the typical college. About 7.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 26.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $105,800, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is School of the Art Institute of Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, 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 16% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
- Lynn UniversityBoca Raton, FL · Close peer52% grad $49,006 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Campbellsville UniversityCampbellsville, KY · Close peer44% grad $41,583 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Everglades UniversityBoca Raton, FL · Close peer59% grad $47,597 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Husson UniversityBangor, ME · Close peer58% grad $45,025 earn 81% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- SUNY at Purchase CollegePurchase, NY · Close peer62% grad $45,092 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Lee UniversityCleveland, TN · Close peer62% grad $43,222 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is School of the Art Institute of Chicago? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Its economic connectedness score is 1.78, 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 16% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note