ACCEPTANCE RATE
76.4%
More selective than 40% 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.
Chicago, ILcity, large
76.4%ACCEPTANCE
$55,485AVG NET PRICE
64%GRAD RATE
3,401STUDENTS
University data profileIPEDS 2023
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
Settingcity, large
Calendarsemester
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
APPLICATION FEE
Undergraduate 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
$43,080$0–$30,000
$45,357$30,001–$48,000
$48,571$48,001–$75,000
$52,086$75,001–$110,000
$55,898$110,001+
AVERAGE NET PRICE AFTER AID
$55,485/yr
▲ 10% since 2020-2193% receive grants or scholarships
Average grant or scholarship aid $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%
Median across 34 institutions in our national dataset: 89%.
Bachelor-level fields offered
5
Bachelor-level fields reported as offered in IPEDS
MOST POPULAR FIELDS OF STUDY
Share of bachelor's degree completions, not of all enrolled students.
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
Reported capacity of institution-controlled housing and campus setting. Capacity does not indicate how many students currently live in university housing.
University-controlled housing capacity
1,032
Includes institution-controlled housing; it may extend beyond campus.
Setting
city, large
AFTER GRADUATION
Student outcomes
Earnings and employment of former students after entering the university.
Source: College Scorecard 2025
Median earnings · 10 yrs after entry
$40,151
Median earnings of former students working and not enrolled, ten years after entry.
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 former students earn above the Scorecard high-school earnings threshold, ten years after entry.
Data Sources: U.S. Department of Education IPEDS, National Center for Education Statistics, and College Scorecard. University Apartments is not affiliated with School of the Art Institute of Chicago.