School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. IWU

Comparable Facts

Compare School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, IL with Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, IL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is larger than IWU based on total student enrollment (3,394 students vs. 1,582 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is located in Chicago, IL (Large City setting); Illinois Wesleyan University is in Bloomington, IL (Small City setting).
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Illinois Wesleyan University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: School of the Art Institute of Chicago 10:1; Illinois Wesleyan University 12:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois Wesleyan University are 19.2% lower than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($13,370 vs. $16,550).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at IWU than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (about $1,284 more per year; $57,704 vs. $56,420).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Illinois Wesleyan University than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois Wesleyan University students is 110.4% larger than aid received by School of the Art Institute of Chicago students ($42,181 vs. $20,050).

Admissions details

• Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at IWU than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (27 vs. 23, midpoint estimate).
• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at School of the Art Institute of Chicago, test optional at IWU.
• Typical fall application deadline: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Nov 15, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at IWU average a 3.86 high school GPA, 0.35 higher than at School of the Art Institute of Chicago (3.51).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.8% at School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs. 12.3% at IWU.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have a $1,287 lower median loan debt than IWU graduates ($25,713 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IWU graduates ($265 vs. $279).
• More IWU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former School of the Art Institute of Chicago students, three years after graduation (87% vs. 62%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.