School of the Art Institute of Chicago vs Saint Edward's University

School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Saint Edward's University are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: School of the Art Institute of Chicago is more selective with a 76.4% acceptance rate compared to Saint Edward's University's 83.7%.

Cost: Saint Edward's University offers a lower average net price at $23,636, which is $26,186 less than School of the Art Institute of Chicago ($49,822). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Saint Edward's University earn a median salary of $58,826 ten years after enrollment, which is $18,675 more than School of the Art Institute of Chicago graduates ($40,151).

Graduation: School of the Art Institute of Chicago leads with a 65.4% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 82.4% vs 78.0%.

Campus Size: School of the Art Institute of Chicago is the larger campus with 2,762 total students, while Saint Edward's University has 2,729.

Bottom Line: Saint Edward's University stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.