Campus of School of the Art Institute of Chicago

    School of the Art Institute of Chicago

    Chicago, IL, United States

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    • Private nonprofit
    • Arts, music & design school

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    Photo: Alanscottwalker, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    School of the Art Institute of Chicago Outcomes

    School of the Art Institute of Chicago has 6 programs with reported graduate earnings. The highest is Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (master's), where graduates earn a median $58,809 four years after finishing, against $71,262 for the same field nationally.

    Outcomes

    Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
    67.9%

    Graduation rate

    First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time

    83.8%

    First-year retention

    Students who return for a second year

    Median earnings

    $47,612

    Former students who received federal aid

    School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduate earnings by major

    Source: U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025

    Median earnings of graduates who received federal aid, one and four years after finishing, and the median federal loan debt they borrowed at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The field median is the middle value for the same field and credential across every college that reports it. 13 more programs have too few graduates for earnings to be published.

    Largest program
    Fine and Studio Arts
    702 graduates · $45,602 median earnings
    Above the national median
    1 of 6 programs
    Graduate earnings compared with the same field and credential at other colleges
    Lowest debt for the pay
    Fine and Studio Arts
    Median debt is 59% of a year's earnings

    Highest-earning programs

    Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (master's)
    $58,809
    Field median $71,262
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (master's)
    $52,952
    Field median $62,450
    Fine and Studio Arts (master's)
    $47,355
    Field median $49,053
    Fine and Studio Arts (bachelor's)
    $45,602
    Field median $41,550
    Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (master's)
    $42,100
    Field median $56,939
    Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies (bachelor's)
    $35,300
    Field median $35,359
    Median earnings four years after finishing, or one year where four is not reported.

    Bachelor's programs

    Bachelor's programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Fine and Studio Arts702$28,510$45,602$41,55010% above$27,000
    Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies9$35,300N/A$35,3590% aboveN/A

    Master's programs

    Master's programs: graduates, median earnings 1 and 4 years after finishing, national median earnings for the field, and median federal debt
    ProgramGraduatesEarnings 1 yrEarnings 4 yrField medianMedian debt
    Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions19$44,217$58,809$71,26217% below$77,840
    Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas10$32,964$52,952$62,45015% belowN/A
    Fine and Studio Arts202$39,327$47,355$49,0533% below$73,391
    Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies12N/A$42,100$56,93926% belowN/A

    Career paths from this college

    Careers linked to the programs School of the Art Institute of Chicago reports, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for the whole occupation, not for this college's graduates.

    Explore all 102 careers
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Architectural and Engineering Managers

      Median pay
      $171,270
      Outlook
      Faster than average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Interior Architecture, Architectural Sciences and Technology

      • Reading Comprehension
      • Active Listening
      • Complex Problem Solving
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

      Median pay
      $141,900
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Historic Preservation and Conservation, Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

      • Complex Problem Solving
      • Coordination
      • Critical Thinking
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Compliance Managers

      Median pay
      $141,900
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Historic Preservation and Conservation, Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

      • Critical Thinking
      • Reading Comprehension
      • Active Listening
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Loss Prevention Managers

      Median pay
      $141,900
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Historic Preservation and Conservation, Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

      • Active Listening
      • Reading Comprehension
      • Speaking
    • Bright outlook

      Management

      Managers, All Other

      Median pay
      $141,900
      Outlook
      As fast as average

      Bachelor's degree

      Via Historic Preservation and Conservation, Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management

    Explore these programs

    Every field of study, with the colleges that offer it and what graduates earn.

    Programs A–Z

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