School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs Ringling College of Art and Design

When it comes to art and design education, two prominent institutions that often come to mind are the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) and Ringling College of Art and Design (RCAD). While both schools offer a comprehensive range of programs and a vibrant artistic community, they also have distinct characteristics that set them apart. SAIC, located in the heart of Chicago's cultural hub, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, providing a diverse and dynamic learning environment. RCAD, situated in the sunny city of Sarasota, Florida, offers a more intimate and focused educational experience with a lower acceptance rate and a smaller student population. To help you make an informed decision about your art education journey, we've compiled a detailed comparison table that delves into the key differences between these two esteemed institutions, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates.

	Ringling College of Art and Design	School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Overview
Location	Sarasota, Florida	Chicago, Illinois
Campus setting	City: Small	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	83.0%	83.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	68.7%	81.0%
Application fees	$70	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	2,117	5,835
Total number of admissions given out	1,455	4,725
Admitted students who chose to enroll	401	669
Yield rate	27.6%	14.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Required	Not required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$74,563	$67,380
Average net price	$51,318	$50,214
Tuition	$46,600	$52,200
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,260 Meal plan: $6,740	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)	97.0% Average amount $15,756	93.0% Average amount $20,194
Students receiving federal student loan	57.0% Average amount $5,391	45.0% Average amount $5,504
Students taking out private loans	12.0% Average amount $35,044	8.0% Average amount $32,788

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,663 Men 28.2% Women 71.8%	2,795 Men 24.8% Women 75.2%
Graduate students	N/A	764 Men 25.8% Women 74.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Moderate
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	20.9%	30.4%
Campus local/setting	City: Small	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	1,272	990
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 Communications Technology English Language and Literature	Visual & Performing Arts English Language and Literature Health Professions Education Architecture
Students to faculty ratio	12:1	10:1
Institutional accreditation	Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges	Higher Learning Commission

Outcome
Graduation rate	80.5%	65.0%
Dropout rate	19.5%	7.5%
Transferred out	N/A	25.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $44,528 Year 2: $48,725 Year 3: $57,463 Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,371 Year 2: $26,121 Year 3: $32,078 Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,460 Year 2: $19,592 Year 3: $21,539 Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $19,707 Year 2: $14,627 Year 3: N/A Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $20,140 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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Ringling College of Art and Design

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