ACCEPTANCE RATE
76.4%
More selective than 58% of listed universities.
SelectiveAccessible
Private University
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private nonprofit four-year institution in Chicago known for its interdisciplinary curriculum and affiliation with the world-class Art Institute of Chicago museum.
76.4%ACCEPTANCE
$55,485AVG NET PRICE
64%GRAD RATE
3,401STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
No photo
Chicago, ILCity: Large
THE SIGNATURE
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Report Card
Explore university facts, programs, and campus life at a glance.
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago stands as a historic leader in art education, celebrating over 160 years of fostering critical thinking and playful creativity. As one of the few museum schools in America, it offers an academic experience where the vast collection of the Art Institute of Chicago serves as an extension of the classroom for students from more than 80 countries.
Located in Chicago, Illinois, this private nonprofit university provides a unique environment where meaning and making are inseparable. The campus is deeply connected to its city home, which acts as a cultural epicenter supporting emerging artists and designers. Students benefit from access to cutting-edge technology alongside traditional techniques within small classes taught by acclaimed faculty who are leading scholars in their fields.
AT A GLANCE
TypePrivateFour or more years
Founded—
SettingCity: Large
Calendarsemester
Religious affiliationNone reported
Athletics—
GETTING IN
Admissions
The institution maintains an acceptance rate of 76.4% based on data for approximately 6,633 applicants. Prospective students can apply for undergraduate and graduate programs where career readiness is built into the curriculum through internships and professional advising.
Source: IPEDS 2023
SAT RANGE (MID 50%)
SAT range is not reported.
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Not reportedUndergraduate application fee $65.
WHAT IT COSTS
Cost & Financial Aid
Sticker price tells you little — net price after aid is what most families actually pay.
Source: IPEDS 2023
IN-STATE TUITION & FEES
$52,604/yr
Out-of-state: $52,604/yr.
Net price by income band
$0–$30,000
$30,001–$48,000
$48,001–$75,000
$75,001–$110,000
$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$55,485/yr
▲ 10% since 2020-2193% receive aid
Average aid package $18,069.
IN THE CLASSROOM
Academics
Academics at SAIC are characterized by an interdisciplinary approach that encourages experimentation across various media. The school offers more than 1,000 courses allowing each of its over 3,300 students to create a unique academic path while engaging with world-renowned faculty and global peers.
Source: IPEDS 2023
Student–faculty ratio
10:1
6-year graduation rate
64%
▼ 2 pts since 2016
First-year retention
82%
Compared with the 89% public-university median.
Undergrad majors
5
Undergraduate majors and programs
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Fine/Studio Arts, General.96.5%
Creative Writing.2.2%
Visual and Performing Arts, General.1%
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.0.3%
Interior Architecture.0%
CAMPUS LIFE
Campus & Housing
Campus housing shows how many students live on-campus — which means nearby housing can be essential to the college experience.
No photo
On-campus beds
1,032
—
Students needing off-campus housing
—
—
Setting
City: Large
IN CONTEXT
School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. peer institutions
How School of the Art Institute of Chicago compares with officially identified or editorially reviewed peer institutions.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
$55,485
peer_institutions: —
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
What graduates earn and how reliably they land work — the bottom-line return on the degree.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$40,151
Compared with earnings for graduates of similar universities.
Working after 10 yrs
76.4%
Share of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
Earning more than a high-school graduate
61.9%
61.9% of students out-earn the typical high-school graduate — a core measure of mobility.
LIVE HERE
Apartments near School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics. University Apartments is not affiliated with School of the Art Institute of Chicago.