Kansas City Art Institute is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Kansas City, Missouri. It enrolls 812 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes52
Value4
Affordability49
Selectivity80
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 54.8%, Kansas City Art Institute is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
54.8%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Kansas City Art Institute is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
3.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Kansas City Art Institute isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $27,650 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,650
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
44%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
69%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$44,550
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,651
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,436
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,874
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,984
Total Cost of Attendance
$57,410
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$26,293
$30,001 – $48,000
$25,105
$48,001 – $75,000
$27,663
$75,001 – $110,000
$29,943
Over $110,000
$30,840
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,80110%percentile
$9,38025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$30,75075%percentile
$39,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $23,475
↓ $3,525
No Pell $19,441
↓ $7,559
Dependent students $21,500
↓ $5,500
Independent students $20,000
↓ $7,000
Female students $21,000
↓ $6,000
Male students $22,500
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
61% of full-time students who enrolled at Kansas City Art Institute graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
61%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Kansas City Art Institute earn a median of $37,032 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$37,032
Earning > $25K
61%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$33,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$33,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$32,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$32,400
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$34,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
7.8 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 71% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Kansas City Art Institute is home to 812 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
812
Part-Time
1%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 60.8%494
Hispanic 16.6%135
Black 8.4%68
Other 8.0%65
Asian 3.5%28
International 0.6%5
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Kansas City Art Institute. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityKansas City, Missouri
Housing
Partly residential282 beds available
Adult Learners
5%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Kansas City Art Institute offers
a focused set of programs:
5 distinct programs across
3 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kansas City Art Institute is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$139M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,944
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
60 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
17
28%
$77,292
Associate Professors
19
32%
$71,519
Assistant Professors
24
40%
$55,991
Pros & Cons of Kansas City Art Institute
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Kansas City Art Institute tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Modest first-year retention
Earnings outcomes are on the lower side
Most students take on federal loans
Best for:
Based on the data, Kansas City Art Institute is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Kansas City Art Institute
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Kansas City Art Institute.
Is Kansas City Art Institute hard to get into?
Admissions at Kansas City Art Institute are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 54.8%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Kansas City Art Institute?
Kansas City Art Institute has an acceptance rate of 54.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Kansas City Art Institute cost?
The average net price after aid at Kansas City Art Institute is $27,650 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Kansas City Art Institute worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $37,032 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,650 per year. That's roughly 1.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Kansas City Art Institute known for?
Kansas City Art Institute is best known for its programs in Fine Arts, Design, Graphic Communications. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Kansas City Art Institute graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Kansas City Art Institute are $37,032, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Kansas City Art Institute accredited?
Yes. Kansas City Art Institute is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Kansas City Art Institute?
Kansas City Art Institute enrolls 812 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Kansas City Art Institute?
Kansas City Art Institute graduates 61% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Kansas City Art Institute a public or private college?
Kansas City Art Institute is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Kansas City Art Institute located?
Kansas City Art Institute is located in Kansas City, Missouri.
What programs does Kansas City Art Institute offer?
Kansas City Art Institute offers 5 distinct programs. The most popular include Fine Arts, Design, Graphic Communications.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Kansas City Art Institute?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Kansas City Art Institute is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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