School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs The University of the Arts (UArts)

When it comes to pursuing a higher education in the arts, two prominent institutions that often come to mind are the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and The University of the Arts (UArts). While both offer exceptional programs in various artistic disciplines, they differ in several key aspects. SAIC, known for its rigorous fine arts curriculum, boasts a lower acceptance rate compared to UArts, which offers a broader range of arts-related programs. In terms of student demographics, SAIC attracts a more diverse student body, while UArts has a higher percentage of female students. Additionally, SAIC has a slightly higher graduation rate than UArts. To help you make an informed decision about your artistic education, we have compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your aspirations and goals.

	School of the Art Institute of Chicago	The University of the Arts
Overview
Location	Chicago, Illinois	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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%	87.0%
Common app member	Yes	No
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	81.0%	85.2%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $65 Graduate: $45	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $60
SAT range	N/A	N/A
ACT range	N/A	N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants	5,835	1,293
Total number of admissions given out	4,725	1,101
Admitted students who chose to enroll	669	269
Yield rate	14.2%	24.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Not required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$67,380	$68,690
Average net price	$50,214	$25,932
Tuition	$52,200	$48,350
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $13,500 Meal plan: $2,480	Room/dormitory: $11,380 Meal plan: $6,250
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	93.0% Average amount $20,194	100.0% Average amount $26,798
Students receiving federal student loan	45.0% Average amount $5,504	94.0% Average amount $5,851
Students taking out private loans	8.0% Average amount $32,788	21.0% Average amount $24,297

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,795 Men 24.8% Women 75.2%	1,397 Men 34.7% Women 65.3%
Graduate students	764 Men 25.8% Women 74.2%	160 Men 28.8% Women 71.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	30.4%	2.8%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	990	582
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Visual & Performing Arts English Language and Literature Health Professions Education Architecture	Visual & Performing Arts Education Communications Technology Multidisciplinary Studies English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio	10:1	8:1
Institutional accreditation	Higher Learning Commission	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	65.0%	68.1%
Dropout rate	7.5%	31.7%
Transferred out	25.6%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	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	Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $45,721 Year 2: $50,677 Year 3: $49,511 Museology/Museum Studies (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $33,796 Year 2: $36,848 Year 3: $44,041 Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $32,047 Year 2: $21,964 Year 3: $30,926 Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,932 Year 2: N/A Year 3: $29,322 Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,815 Year 2: $20,140 Year 3: $28,945 Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,696 Year 2: $21,052 Year 3: $28,612 Dance (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $21,267 Year 2: $21,613 Year 3: $26,673 Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $16,297 Year 2: $18,771 Year 3: $25,853 Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $21,067 Year 2: $22,329 Year 3: $25,752 Music (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,579 Year 2: $19,358 Year 3: $25,140

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School of the Art Institute of Chicago

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