SVA NYC vs American Academy of Art College

When it comes to art and design education, School of Visual Arts (SVA) and American Academy of Art College (AAAC) stand out as two of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. While both schools offer a wide range of programs and opportunities for aspiring artists, there are some key differences between them. SVA boasts a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process, while AAAC has a higher graduation rate, suggesting a strong focus on student success. SVA's student body is more diverse, with a larger international student population, while AAAC's student body is predominantly female. To help you make an informed decision about your art education, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more, including popular majors, tuition costs, and faculty-to-student ratios.
American Academy of Art College logo

American Academy of Art College

School of Visual Arts logo

School of Visual Arts

Overview

Location Chicago, Illinois New York, New York
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (For Profit) Private (For Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 70.0% 85.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission 71.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $80
SAT range N/A 1140 - 1363
ACT range N/A 22 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 14.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0%
Total number of applicants 4,208
Total number of admissions given out 3,000
Admitted students who chose to enroll 771
Yield rate 25.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required N/A
High school GPA N/A Required
Recommendation letters N/A Not required
High school transcript N/A Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $47,236 $74,968
Average net price $22,406 $51,634
Tuition $35,800 $45,000
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

67.0%
Average amount $19,206
63.0%
Average amount $16,551
Students receiving federal student loan 70.0%
Average amount $6,159
24.0%
Average amount $5,267
Students taking out private loans 15.0%
Average amount $13,425
7.0%
Average amount $32,503

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 145
Men 31.7% Women 68.3%
3,529
Men 27.4% Women 72.6%
Graduate students N/A 582
Men 24.9% Women 75.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 65.5%
International students N/A 53.9%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A 1,092
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A New York New Jersey California Florida Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communications Technology
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Communications Technology
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.9% 73.9%
Dropout rate 29.3% 13.6%
Transferred out 12.1% 11.5%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,434
  • Year 2: $23,719
  • Year 3: $28,522
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,217
  • Year 2: $19,866
  • Year 3: $23,771
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,688
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $79,178
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,823
  • Year 3: $56,128
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,114
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: $54,214
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,489
  • Year 2: $31,567
  • Year 3: $31,458
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,424
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $30,286
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,481
  • Year 2: $24,863
  • Year 3: $26,003
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $14,518
  • Year 2: $13,132
  • Year 3: $18,637
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,405
  • Year 2: $17,489
  • Year 3: $17,701
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,635
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,856
  • Year 3: N/A