School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

Envision yourself immersed in the vibrant art scenes of Chicago or San Francisco, surrounded by creative minds and endless opportunities for artistic expression. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand as two prominent institutions, each offering a unique educational experience. While both share a commitment to nurturing artistic talent, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your artistic aspirations and personal preferences. Dive into the details and uncover the nuances that set these prestigious art schools apart, empowering you to make an informed decision about your artistic journey.
San Francisco Art Institute logo

San Francisco Art Institute

School of the Art Institute of Chicago logo

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Overview

Location San Francisco, California Chicago, Illinois
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 83.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 94.7% 81.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $85
Undergraduate: $65

Graduate: $45
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 169 5,835
Total number of admissions given out 160 4,725
Admitted students who chose to enroll 669
Yield rate 14.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA N/A Not required
Recommendation letters N/A Required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $67,380
Average net price $50,214
Tuition $52,200
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $13,500

Meal plan: $2,480
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

93.0%
Average amount $20,194
Students receiving federal student loan 45.0%
Average amount $5,504
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $32,788

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
2,795
Men 24.8% Women 75.2%
Graduate students 28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
764
Men 25.8% Women 74.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students N/A 30.4%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A 990
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • English Language and Literature
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Architecture
Students to faculty ratio 4:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation N/A Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 31.8% 65.0%
Dropout rate 68.2% 7.5%
Transferred out N/A 25.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $32,786
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,309
  • Year 2: $30,119
  • Year 3: $30,264
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,116
  • Year 2: $28,381
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,494
  • Year 2: $22,420
  • Year 3: $16,882
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $16,008
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,981
  • Year 2: $22,192
  • Year 3: $28,893
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,095
  • Year 2: $22,055
  • Year 3: $27,442
Architecture (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,707
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,461
  • Year 2: $35,600
  • Year 3: N/A
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,550
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,246
  • Year 2: $38,829
  • Year 3: N/A

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