School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Pacific

Deciding between School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Pacific University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Pacific University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL
  • Pacific Forest Grove, OR
  • Setting
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Large City
  • Pacific Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 3,394
  • Pacific 3,427
  • Type
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Private 4 Year
  • Pacific Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago #459
  • Pacific #427
  • Religious Affiliation
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago -
  • Pacific -
  • Status
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Non-profit
  • Pacific Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Pacific
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $56,420
  • Pacific $56,374
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $56,420
  • Pacific $56,374
  • Room & Board
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $16,550
  • Pacific $15,620
  • Average Net Price
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $55,631
  • Pacific $35,235
  • Average Grant Aid
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $20,050
  • Pacific $37,139
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 99%
  • Pacific 98%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 6,626
  • Pacific 2,988
  • Admitted
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 5,133
  • Pacific 2,676
  • Acceptance Rate
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 77.5%
  • Pacific 89.6%
  • Enrolled
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 11.8%
  • Pacific 13.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1150
  • Pacific 1070
  • Typical ACT score
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 23
  • Pacific 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 3.51
  • Pacific 3.73
  • Typical High School Grades
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago A-
  • Pacific A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Moderate
  • Pacific Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
  • Pacific
  • ACT Range
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 22/25
  • Pacific 18/29
  • SAT Range
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1048/1260
  • Pacific 900/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Test-free
  • Pacific Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Nov 15, 2026
  • Pacific Aug 25, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 10:1
  • Pacific 10:1
  • Popular Majors
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
    • Visual and Performing Arts (96%)
    • English and Literature (3%)
    • Architecture (2%)
  • Pacific
    • Biology (13%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 60%
  • Pacific 61%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $39,100
  • Pacific $46,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 62%
  • Pacific 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $25,713
  • Pacific $26,156
  • Median Loan Payment
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago $265
  • Pacific $270
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 24%
  • Pacific 33%
  • % Women
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 76%
  • Pacific 67%
  • Racial Diversity
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Very High
  • Pacific High
  • HBCU
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago No
  • Pacific No
  • % White
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 36%
  • Pacific 52%
  • % Asian
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 12%
  • Pacific 12%
  • % Black
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 3%
  • Pacific 2%
  • % Hispanic
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 9%
  • Pacific 13%
  • % Native American
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 0%
  • Pacific 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 0%
  • Pacific 3%
  • % Two or More Races
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 3%
  • Pacific 12%
  • % International
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 32%
  • Pacific 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 4%
  • Pacific 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 17%
  • Pacific 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago 59%
  • Pacific 56%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Yes
  • Pacific Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago No
  • Pacific No
  • Meal Plan
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Yes
  • Pacific Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago No
  • Pacific No
  • Daycare Facility
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago No
  • Pacific No
  • Learn More
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago Details
  • Pacific Details

Comparable Facts

Compare School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL with Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pacific University is larger than School of the Art Institute of Chicago based on total student enrollment (3,427 students vs. 3,394 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Pacific University is in Forest Grove, OR (Large Suburban setting).
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pacific University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 10:1; Pacific University 10:1.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Pacific Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or Pacific? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific University than School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($35,235 vs. $55,631).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific University are 5.6% lower than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($15,620 vs. $16,550).
  • School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 0.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pacific (about $46 more per year; $56,420.00 vs. $56,374.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.1% higher at School of the Art Institute of Chicago than at Pacific University (about $46 more per year; $56,420.00 vs. $56,374.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at School of the Art Institute of Chicago than at Pacific University (99% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific University students is 85.2% larger than aid received by School of the Art Institute of Chicago students ($37,139 vs. $20,050).

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Pacific Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or Pacific? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pacific and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1150) is 80 points higher than at Pacific (1070).
  • Incoming School of the Art Institute of Chicago students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 23) as students at Pacific (23).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1048/1260; Pacific University 900/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 22/25; Pacific University 18/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Test-free; Pacific - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Nov 15, 2026; Pacific Aug 25, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pacific students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (3.51).
  • Pacific has a higher acceptance rate (89.6%) than School of the Art Institute of Chicago (77.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. 13.1% at Pacific.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. Pacific Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Pacific? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Pacific University's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than School of the Art Institute of Chicago's (60%).
  • Graduates from Pacific University earn a median of about $7,700 more per year than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,800 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have a $443 lower median loan debt than Pacific graduates ($25,713 vs. $26,156).
  • Among borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pacific graduates ($265 vs. $270).
  • More Pacific graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.