College Paths After Chicago Academy: Where Our Artists Go Next
For many families exploring arts education, one question naturally rises to the surface: What happens after high school?
At The Chicago Academy for the Arts, the answer is both inspiring and reassuring. Our students go on to attend some of the most respected colleges, conservatories, universities, and training programs in the country, and they pursue futures as artists, entrepreneurs, educators, innovators, leaders, and changemakers.
Because an arts education does not limit a student’s future. It expands it.
The class of 2026 is headed all over the country!
More Than Artistic Training
The Academy was founded on a powerful belief: students should never have to choose between artistic passion and academic excellence.
Here, students spend their days immersed in rigorous college-preparatory academics while simultaneously training in a pre-professional arts environment. They learn how to think critically, collaborate effectively, communicate confidently, solve problems creatively, and adapt quickly — skills that colleges and employers consistently value across every industry.
The result? Graduates who are exceptionally prepared for what comes next.
Whether students pursue performance, medicine, law, business, education, technology, design, communications, or entrepreneurship, they leave The Academy with the confidence and discipline to succeed.
Where Our Students Go
Academy graduates have continued their education at an extraordinary range of institutions, including prestigious arts conservatories, major universities, and highly selective liberal arts colleges.
This year alone, we have students heading to schools such as:
University of Southern California
DePaul University
New York University
Tufts University
Butler University
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kansas City Art Institute
Ball State University
Indiana University
Pratt Institute
Chapman University
Emerson College
University of Arizona
Long Island University
Bard College
Rice University
And more!
In previous years, The Academy has sent students on to other recognizable institutions, including Juilliard School, Berklee College of Music, Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, and many more.
Some students pursue BFA conservatory programs. Others choose research universities or interdisciplinary degrees that combine the arts with subjects like psychology, engineering, marketing, political science, communications, or business.
What connects them all is this: they leave The Academy prepared to thrive.
Why Arts Students Often Excel in College
Arts education teaches far more than technique.
Students learn resilience through critique. They learn time management by balancing rehearsals, performances, exhibitions, and academics. They learn how to present themselves professionally. They become comfortable taking risks, speaking publicly, collaborating with diverse groups, and thinking beyond conventional solutions.
In other words, they develop the kinds of skills that translate everywhere.
A young actor learns confidence and communication.
A dancer develops discipline and perseverance.
A visual artist strengthens observation and problem-solving.
A musician learns precision, teamwork, and adaptability.
A filmmaker learns storytelling, leadership, and technical fluency.
These are not niche abilities. They are lifelong tools. And colleges recognize that.
Students Are Supported Every Step of the Way
At The Academy, college preparation is deeply personalized.
Faculty and advisors work closely with students throughout the college search and application process — helping them identify schools that align with both their artistic and academic goals. Students receive support with portfolios, auditions, essays, interviews, applications, and scholarship opportunities.
Families are never navigating the process alone.
Our teachers understand the demands of arts-focused college admissions because many are working professionals in their fields. They know what competitive programs are looking for and how to help students present their strongest work authentically and confidently.
That guidance can make all the difference.
Success Looks Different for Every Student
One of the most exciting things about Academy graduates is that there is no single definition of success.
Some alumni perform on Broadway.
Some work in film, television, music, or design.
Some become educators, arts administrators, marketers, entrepreneurs, therapists, or attorneys.
Some continue creating art alongside careers in entirely different industries.
The common thread is not one profession. It is the ability to build meaningful, fulfilling lives rooted in creativity, curiosity, and confidence.
That is what an arts education truly offers.
A Place Where Young Artists Can Grow
Choosing a high school is ultimately about trust. Families want to know their students will be challenged academically, nurtured personally, and prepared professionally for whatever future they choose.
At The Academy, students are surrounded by passionate peers, dedicated faculty, and a community that believes deeply in their potential. They are encouraged not only to become stronger artists, but stronger thinkers, collaborators, and human beings.
And when they graduate, they leave ready for what comes next. Because creativity is not a detour from success. For many students, it is the foundation of it.
Do you know a student who’s passionate about an art form? Our applications are still open for the 2026/2027 school year: https://www.chicagoacademyforthearts.org/admissions
