School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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.
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What The Data Says
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 65%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending School of the Art Institute of Chicago, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $56,420 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $49,790 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $43,798 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields School of the Art Institute of Chicago 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 School of the Art Institute of Chicago's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 65%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend School of the Art Institute of Chicago? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending School of the Art Institute of Chicago, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $56,420 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $49,790 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $43,798 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $27,000.
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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 16% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note