School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs American Conservatory Theater

When it comes to pursuing higher education in the arts, two esteemed institutions stand out: the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and the American Conservatory Theater (ACT). While both offer exceptional programs in their respective fields, they differ in several key aspects. SAIC, known for its rigorous fine arts curriculum, boasts a lower acceptance rate compared to ACT, which specializes in theater arts. In terms of student demographics, SAIC attracts a more diverse student body, with a higher percentage of international students. ACT, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into these differences and more, including popular majors, tuition fees, and notable alumni. Explore the table to discover which institution aligns best with your artistic aspirations and academic goals.

	American Conservatory Theater	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	N/A	81.0%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $90 Graduate: $90	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		5,835
Total number of admissions given out		4,725
Admitted students who chose to enroll		669
Yield rate		14.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Not required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$51,676	$67,380
Average net price		$50,214
Tuition	$30,235	$52,200
Room & board		Room/dormitory: $13,500 Meal plan: $2,480
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	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	11 Men 45.5% Women 54.5%	2,795 Men 24.8% Women 75.2%
Graduate students	13 Men 46.2% Women 53.8%	764 Men 25.8% Women 74.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	N/A	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	Visual & Performing Arts English Language and Literature Health Professions Education Architecture
Students to faculty ratio	6:1	10:1
Institutional accreditation	N/A	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	100.0%	65.0%
Dropout rate	N/A	7.5%
Transferred out	N/A	25.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $18,087 Year 3: $27,588	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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School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs American Conservatory Theater

American Conservatory Theater

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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