The Ailey School
- Graduation Rate
- 74% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $22,782 F
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $35,855 F
- 109% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 32% A
- Admits roughly 32% — highly selective
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 3.1× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $3.1 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $3.1 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $296,558.
What The Data Says
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A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduate earnings fall 44% below the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $3.1 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About The Ailey School
The Ailey School is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private College
- Enrollment
- 94
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose The Ailey School
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
Selective — admits about 32% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $35,855 a year after grants and scholarships — 109% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $22,782 ten years after enrolling — 44% below the typical college, against $17,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.
See mobility →Can I Get In?
How selective The Ailey School 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 The Ailey School? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in New York, New York, The Ailey School reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 32%. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 32%
- Retention Rate
- 95%
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 3:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.77
- Applicants
- 362
- Admitted
- 217
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 The Ailey School? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at The Ailey School is $14,817, 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 $35,855. The median graduate leaves with about $17,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $14,817
- Out-of-State
- $14,817
- Avg Net Price
- $35,855
- Median Debt
- $17,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 36%
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 The Ailey School — 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 The Ailey School Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of The Ailey School report median earnings of $22,782, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $23,620
- 8 Years
- $26,321
- 10 Years
- $22,782
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.77x
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (18)
- 53%
- 100% (18)
- 53%
- 100% (18)
- 53%
- 100% (18)
- 53%
How The Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
College ROI Calculator
Is The Ailey School Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, The Ailey School delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $35,855/year ($143,420 total). Graduates earn $22,782 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $439,978 in total earnings — a net gain of $296,558 (3.1× your investment). The median debt is $17,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 74% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a strong ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $143,420
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $439,978
- Net Return
- $296,558
- ROI Multiple
- 3.1×
- Cost Per Year
- $35,855
- Median Debt
- $17,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 74%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields The Ailey School 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 100% $26,014 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 The Ailey School'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 The Ailey School? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in New York, New York, The Ailey School reviews applications selectively. The acceptance rate runs near 32%. The graduation rate is roughly 74%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend The Ailey School? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at The Ailey School is $14,817, 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 $35,855. The median graduate leaves with about $17,500 in federal student loans.
Is The Ailey School Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of The Ailey School report median earnings of $22,782, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to The Ailey School.
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