Kansas City Art Institute
Kansas City, Missouri · Private Nonprofit · 54.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 18/100 · Poor Value
Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI) scores 18 (Poor Value) on the CampusROI scale. The numbers are harsh for an institution with $44,550 sticker tuition and a $27,650 net price: median 6-year earnings of $26,300, a payback period of 123.3 years, debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.027, and a completion rate of 58.0%. Median debt of $27,000 exceeds the full first-year median earnings. The Scorecard reports only four programs: Design ($29,513 year-one, ROI grade D), Fine and Studio Arts ($22,906 year-one, ROI grade F), Film/Video and Photographic Arts ($22,619 year-one, ROI grade F), and Graphic Communications ($17,852 year-one, ROI grade F). All four carry debt-to-earnings ratios above 0.9; three are above 1.0. The repayment rate of 69.1% at three years indicates a meaningful share of graduates are not keeping up with loan payments. Average faculty salary of $7,886 is low. KCAI is a specialized art school with a mission that extends beyond financial return -- the credential has value in Kansas City's creative economy and in portfolio-based career paths that Scorecard earnings do not fully capture. However, prospective students and their families should confront the earnings data directly: $26,300 median earnings six years after enrollment is below the federal poverty line for a family of four, and median debt of $27,000 does not go away.
The data raises concerns about Kansas City Art Institute
These metrics fall below the thresholds most financial advisors recommend for a sound college investment. Review them carefully before committing.
- ROI Score18/100 - Poor Value tier (below 45). Most 4-year schools we track score 60 or higher.
- Debt-to-earnings1.03 - Advisors recommend total student debt stay below one year of salary (ratio under 1.0).
- Payback period>50 years - Graduates earn at or near the level of high school completers — the cost may not recoup within a working career.
Kansas City Art Institute
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $44,550/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $44,550/yr |
| Average net price | $27,650/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $110,600 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $37,032 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $26,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | >50 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 58.0% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 812 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Kansas City Art Institute is $44,550/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $27,650/year, or roughly $110,600 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $26,293/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,840/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $37,032 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 1.03 - above the recommended threshold where total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $26,293 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $25,105 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $27,663 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $29,943 |
| $110,001+ | $30,840 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 bracket pays $26,293 per year at KCAI -- nearly the school's entire median 6-year earnings figure as an annual cost. Four years at $26,293 totals $105,172. Against $26,300 median 6-year earnings, the financial case is impossible to make on quantitative grounds. Low-income students admitted to KCAI should compare the cost structure to public art schools like Kansas City's UMKC or KCAI's own scholarship offers before committing.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $27,663 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $29,943. Middle-income families face essentially the same cost as low-income families -- the aid formula provides minimal differentiation across income bands at KCAI. At $27,000-$29,943 annually, four-year cost runs $108,000-$119,772 against median 6-year earnings of $26,300.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $30,840 per year -- the highest tier, and barely above the lower-income brackets. KCAI's aid model does not significantly reward higher family income with lower prices. For high-income families, the question is whether the KCAI credential and experience justify $123,360 in four-year cost against labor market outcomes that the Scorecard data do not support.
Earnings by Major
Top 4 most popular majors at Kansas City Art Institute with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Fine and Studio Arts | $37,718 | F |
| Design and Applied Arts | $43,070 | D |
| Graphic Communications | $30,798 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $34,253 | F |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Design and Applied Arts
Design and Applied Arts is KCAI's best-performing program in earnings terms: 46 graduates, $29,513 year-one, $43,070 year-four, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.915 (ROI grade D). Even the best program at KCAI carries a D grade. Median debt of $27,000 at $29,513 year-one earnings means debt exceeds annual income. Four-year earnings of $43,070 show progression but remain modest. Design careers in Kansas City and regional markets offer limited salary growth relative to national design hubs.
Fine and Studio Arts
Fine and Studio Arts (62 graduates) earns $22,906 year-one and $37,718 year-four with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.179 (ROI grade F). Median debt of $27,000 at $22,906 year-one earnings means debt is 118% of annual income. Four-year earnings of $37,718 are below the median U.S. household income for a single worker. Fine arts is a known low-earnings field; KCAI's pricing does not account for this reality.
Graphic Communications
Graphic Communications (25 graduates) earns $17,852 year-one and $30,798 year-four with the worst debt-to-earnings ratio in the KCAI program set at 1.512 (ROI grade F). Median debt of $27,000 at $17,852 year-one means graduates owe 151% of their annual income. The $30,798 four-year figure is below the federal minimum wage at 40 hours per week in many states. This is among the worst program-level ROI outcomes in the full CampusROI dataset.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 63.0% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 69.1% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 65.8% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 64.6% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 54.8% |
| Enrollment | 812 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 43.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,886 |
At 54.8%, KCAI has a meaningful selectivity filter based on portfolio quality rather than test scores. The Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT ranges. Admission represents an assessment of creative potential rather than academic credentials. Prospective students should weigh portfolio acceptance as evidence of artistic merit while separately evaluating the financial implications of the earnings and debt data.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
KCAI's peers include Avila University, Mission University, St. Andrews University, Be'er Yaakov Talmudic Seminary, and Philander Smith University -- a disparate group. More relevant comparisons for a specialized art school are RISD, Pratt, SCAD, and SAIC. KCAI's ROI of 18 is well below SCAD (approximately 35-40) and SAIC (approximately 25-30). Among art schools in the Midwest, KCAI carries a strong regional reputation, but the Scorecard earnings data place it at the bottom of the ROI distribution regardless of prestige comparisons. Students who need financial return from their degree should look at graphic design or UX/UI programs at broader universities before committing to a specialized art school.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Art Institute (this school) | 18 | $27,650 | $37,032 |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design | 19 | $29,926 | $40,873 |
| Columbus College of Art & Design | 19 | $29,439 | $40,664 |
| Moore College of Art and Design | 18 | $43,086 | $37,839 |
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | 18 | $30,083 | $33,301 |
| Maine College of Art & Design | 17 | $38,338 | $40,778 |
Who Thrives Here
KCAI admits 54.8% of applicants and does not report test score ranges. At 812 enrolled, it is a small specialized art school focused entirely on visual art and design. The Pell grant rate of 43.7% is high, indicating significant financial need among the student body. KCAI attracts students with strong studio art portfolios who are pursuing careers in the visual arts, design, and creative industries. The financial reality for most graduates is low initial earnings with potential for growth in freelance, design, or creative director roles over time -- a trajectory not well captured in the 6-year Scorecard window.
The Verdict: The Numbers Don't Add Up
The financial data raises serious concerns about Kansas City Art Institute. With a net cost of $27,650 per year and median graduate earnings of only $37,032 ten years out, the estimated payback period exceeds >50 years. For most students, the financial return does not justify the cost.
Areas of concern include weak earnings relative to cost and high debt relative to what graduates earn and concerning loan repayment rates and a long payback period.
Median debt of $27,000 against $37,032 in earnings is concerning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 exceeds the commonly recommended threshold. Major choice is critical here.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.