School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. WMU

Comparable Facts

Compare School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL with Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Michigan University is larger than School of the Art Institute of Chicago based on total student enrollment (16,744 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); Western Michigan University is in Kalamazoo, MI (Small City setting).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Western Michigan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 10:1; Western Michigan University 16:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or WMU? 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 Western Michigan University than School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($17,331 vs. $55,631).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Michigan University are 26.4% lower than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($12,174 vs. $16,550).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 269.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than WMU (about $41,168 more per year; $56,420.00 vs. $15,252.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 196.4% higher at School of the Art Institute of Chicago than at Western Michigan University (about $37,386 more per year; $56,420.00 vs. $19,034.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at School of the Art Institute of Chicago than at Western Michigan University (99% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by School of the Art Institute of Chicago students is 81.5% larger than aid received by Western Michigan University students ($20,050 vs. $11,048).

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

Which college is harder to get into, School of the Art Institute of Chicago or WMU? 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 WMU and School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (1150) is 40 points higher than at WMU (1110).
• Incoming School of the Art Institute of Chicago students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 23) as students at WMU (23).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 1048/1260; Western Michigan University 990/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 22/25; Western Michigan University 20/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: School of the Art Institute of Chicago - Test-free; WMU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Nov 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman School of the Art Institute of Chicago students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.51) than students at WMU (3.5).
• WMU has a higher acceptance rate (84.6%) 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. 13.5% at WMU.

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

How do outcomes compare for School of the Art Institute of Chicago and WMU? 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).

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Western Michigan University's (56%).
• Graduates from Western Michigan University earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,900 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have a $920 lower median loan debt than WMU graduates ($25,713 vs. $26,633).
• Among borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WMU graduates ($265 vs. $275).
• More School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WMU students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 54%)

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.