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School of the Art Institute of Chicago

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private campus in Chicago proper — federal locale codes class it as urban. International students are a visible presence at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — 27.9% of its 2,805 undergraduates come from outside the U.S.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$43,080

family income
under $30k

$45,357

$30–48k

$48,571

$48–75k

$52,086

$75–110k

$55,898

over $110k

Average net price

$49,7902023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at School of the Art Institute of Chicago rose from $37,067 (2008) to $49,790 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$37,067
2009	$37,156
2010	$38,837
2011	$40,118
2012	$38,809
2013	$41,196
2014	$39,613
2015	$38,607
2016	$41,935
2017	$43,013
2018	$44,815
2019	$45,909
2020	$46,067
2021	$47,294
2022	$49,822
2023	$49,790

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$75,6252024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at School of the Art Institute of Chicago rose from $48,689 (2009) to $75,625 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$48,689
2010	$51,001
2011	$54,078
2012	$55,763
2013	$55,551
2014	$57,361
2015	$57,674
2016	$59,698
2017	$62,010
2018	$63,848
2019	$67,058
2020	$68,575
2021	$70,532
2022	$72,278
2023	$74,138
2024	$75,625

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$20,220
2001	$21,300
2002	$22,500
2003	$24,000
2004	$25,660
2005	$27,150
2006	$29,220
2007	$31,040
2008	$32,840
2013	$40,585
2014	$42,230
2015	$43,960
2016	$45,750
2017	$49,610
2018	$49,310
2019	$50,920
2020	$53,160
2021	$53,160
2022	$54,530
2023	$54,530

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

School of the Art Institute of Chicago reports published tuition of $56,420 in this record. School of the Art Institute of Chicago's $56,420 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago reports 2,805 undergraduate students. Enrollment is a headcount, not a measure of teaching access.

67% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at School of the Art Institute of Chicago within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

67%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at School of the Art Institute of Chicago rose from 40.5% (entered 1991) to 67% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	40.5%
1992 cohort	41.9%
1993 cohort	41.4%
1994 cohort	43.2%
1995 cohort	42.6%
1996 cohort	49.8%
1997 cohort	55.2%
1998 cohort	55.5%
1999 cohort	53.6%
2000 cohort	60.9%
2001 cohort	54%
2002 cohort	61.6%
2003 cohort	62.6%
2004 cohort	61.1%
2005 cohort	60.5%
2006 cohort	54.2%
2007 cohort	54%
2008 cohort	57.1%
2009 cohort	62.5%
2010 cohort	65.7%
2011 cohort	65.6%
2012 cohort	64.9%
2013 cohort	69.9%
2014 cohort	67.8%
2015 cohort	65%
2016 cohort	66.8%
2017 cohort	64%
2018 cohort	67%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$14,938	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$15,125	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$14,313	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$12,312	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	—	$10,855
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$17,125	$11,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$16,250	$10,813
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$17,125	$9,000
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,125	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$18,750	$7,125
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$20,607	$6,625
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$23,094	$6,250
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$25,000	$6,442
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$24,500	$8,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$24,500	$8,116
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$25,154	$7,363
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$25,385	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$26,980	$8,421
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$26,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$26,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$27,000	$10,929
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$27,000	$11,000

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$26,742

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$31,846

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$40,151

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

School of the Art Institute of Chicago admitted 5,133 of 6,626 applicants in Fall 2024. The 77.5% rate describes that application pool.

77.5%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $54,530 tuition · 2023–24 2,805 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

School of the Art Institute of Chicago did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for School of the Art Institute of Chicago under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

In the Fall 2024 cycle, School of the Art Institute of Chicago received 6,626 applications and admitted 5,133 (77.5%), with 604 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

77.5%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2002	80.5%
Fall 2003	83.1%
Fall 2004	83.7%
Fall 2005	83.6%
Fall 2006	81.3%
Fall 2007	80%
Fall 2008	81.5%
Fall 2009	81.3%
Fall 2010	73.3%
Fall 2011	76.6%
Fall 2012	78.3%
Fall 2013	71.8%
Fall 2014	69.2%
Fall 2015	66.5%
Fall 2016	59.3%
Fall 2017	61%
Fall 2018	58.6%
Fall 2019	57%
Fall 2020	77.8%
Fall 2021	81%
Fall 2022	79%
Fall 2023	76.4%
Fall 2024	77.5%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2002–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

1048–1260Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	1000	1205
Fall 2005	1020	1220
Fall 2006	1000	1250
Fall 2008	1010	1220
Fall 2009	1010	1240
Fall 2010	1030	1240
Fall 2012	1010	1250
Fall 2015	1030	1300
Fall 2016	1020	1240
Fall 2017	1110	1340
Fall 2018	1120	1340
Fall 2019	1120	1360
Fall 2020	1048	1260

IPEDS Fall 2001–2020, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

22–25Fall 2020 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	21	26
Fall 2005	20	25
Fall 2006	20	25
Fall 2008	21	26
Fall 2009	21	27
Fall 2010	21	26
Fall 2011	22	27
Fall 2012	21	27
Fall 2013	18	28
Fall 2014	18	28
Fall 2015	22	28
Fall 2016	22	27
Fall 2017	22	30
Fall 2018	22	28
Fall 2019	22	29
Fall 2020	22	25

IPEDS Fall 2001–2020, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

2,805Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at School of the Art Institute of Chicago rose from 1,817 (Fall 2002) to 2,805 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	1,817
Fall 2003	1,893
Fall 2004	1,987
Fall 2005	2,008
Fall 2006	2,194
Fall 2007	2,330
Fall 2008	2,359
Fall 2009	2,379
Fall 2010	2,490
Fall 2011	2,480
Fall 2012	2,548
Fall 2013	2,641
Fall 2014	2,783
Fall 2015	2,843
Fall 2016	2,848
Fall 2017	2,889
Fall 2018	2,893
Fall 2019	2,983
Fall 2020	2,487
Fall 2021	2,795
Fall 2022	2,819
Fall 2023	2,762
Fall 2024	2,805

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

84%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at School of the Art Institute of Chicago has held near 84% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	79%
Fall 2003 cohort	82%
Fall 2004 cohort	77%
Fall 2005 cohort	80%
Fall 2006 cohort	73%
Fall 2007 cohort	74%
Fall 2008 cohort	75%
Fall 2009 cohort	76%
Fall 2010 cohort	78%
Fall 2011 cohort	79%
Fall 2012 cohort	81%
Fall 2013 cohort	82%
Fall 2014 cohort	82%
Fall 2015 cohort	81%
Fall 2016 cohort	81%
Fall 2017 cohort	81%
Fall 2018 cohort	82%
Fall 2019 cohort	74%
Fall 2020 cohort	83%
Fall 2021 cohort	79%
Fall 2022 cohort	82%
Fall 2023 cohort	84%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Faculty pay at School of the Art Institute of Chicago averages $139,536 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes School of the Art Institute of Chicago as a primarily residential campus of 2,805 undergraduates — and 83.8% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 77.5%. Review School of the Art Institute of Chicago's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How School of the Art Institute of Chicago compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

School of the Art Institute of Chicago77.5%

Illinois median77%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

School of the Art Institute of Chicago$56,420

Illinois median$31,360

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

School of the Art Institute of Chicago's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago$40,151

Illinois median$58,572

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois and national reference values
Metric & basis	School of the Art Institute of Chicago	Illinois median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	77.5%	77%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$56,420	$31,360	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$40,151	$58,572	$53,781

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does School of the Art Institute of Chicago report?

School of the Art Institute of Chicago did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 77.5% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is School of the Art Institute of Chicago's acceptance rate?

77.5% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 5,133 admitted from 6,626 applicants.

How much does School of the Art Institute of Chicago cost?

At School of the Art Institute of Chicago, tuition is $56,420. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does School of the Art Institute of Chicago report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $40,151. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Illinois

Augustana College — 62.7% admitted
Aurora University — 80.9% admitted
Blackburn College — 63.2% admitted
Bradley University — 76.8% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Read the date and population definitions.