School of Art Institute of Chicago is a charter member by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The university is home to over 3,100 students. Nearly 60 programs at School of Art Institute of Chicago are well designed with a combination of theoretical learning, practical activities, and industrial exposure to help students in achieving their career and academic goals.

The school is ranked #372 among the US colleges by Times Higher Education, 2022. About 31% of the total student body are international students, making it one of the most diverse places for studying abroad. International students need to demonstrate satisfactory SAT or ACT scores for admission to the university.

Highlights

Established 1886
Type Private
Campus Setting Urban
Number of students enrolled at SAIC 3,100+
Acceptance Rate 70%
Graduation Rate 63%
Cost of Attendance 66,700 USD
International Students  31%
Student-Faculty ratio 11:1
Accommodation Available
Campus Housing Capacity 17%
Admission Helpdesk admiss@saic.edu 
Official Website https://www.saic.edu/

School of Art Institute of Chicago Campus

SAIC has a beautiful campus in Illinois which is over a large area of land and occupies the iconic Michigan Avenue Building with on-campus accommodation facilities, air-conditioned classrooms, computer labs, libraries, eateries, game facilities. The campus classrooms are well equipped with all the facilities like free wi-fi, study area ensuring a comfortable and learning ambiance to the students.

The campus is at a prime location. All the major attractions of Chicago are at a walking distance from the campus. Students can explore the vibrant urban precincts, exciting nightlife, the outdoor lifestyle, and friendly locals. The college runs 60 student groups and organizations that conduct various activities for the development of students. Some of the activities include Latin Dancing, Yoga Classes, Philosophy Discussion, Art Critiques and more.

School of Art Institute of Chicago Accommodation

The School of Art Institute of Chicago provides on-campus accommodation facilities to the students. SAIC has residential halls that can accommodate 700 students. There is three on-campus residence hall available for the students, namely, Jones Hall, 162 North State Street Residence and The Buckingham.

The Buckingham Residence is the center of the city and offers apartment-style residence. The Jones Hall and 162 North State Street Residence offer single, double, triple occupancy bedrooms with all the facilities. Basic amenities provided at these residence halls include comfortable rooms, wardrobe, living room, kitchen, internet connection, refrigerator, etc. Off-campus housing in USA are also available, the school provides the required information and assistance about the off-campus accommodation facilities.

School of Art Institute of Chicago Programs

School of Art Institute of Chicago offers programs in 48 areas of study. Among the various programs at School of Art Institute of Chicago, five undergraduate and 14 graduate programs are currently provided. The Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Studio program is a course for students having a bachelor's degree. It facilitates students to develop artistic vision and technical proficiency. Historic Preservation Certificate provides knowledge of historic preservation research, documentation, material conservation, and practice.

School of Art Institute of Chicago Admission Process

  • Application Portal: Applicants can apply through the Common Application or an online portal on the university's official website.
  • Application Fees: 85 USD (Undergraduate Applicants), 90 USD (Graduate Applicants).
  • Application Deadline: Application for SAIC admissions can be sent by:
    • Fall Season - July 17
    • Spring Season - January 1
  • Required Documents:
    • A completed application
    • Official transcripts or high school records, diplomas, and certificates.
    • English language proficiency
    • Standardized Test Scores i.e.
      • ACT/ SAT Score (For Undergraduate Courses)
      • GRE (For Graduate Courses)
    • Financial Documents, if applying for financial aids
  • Additional Requirements:
    • LOR
    • Portfolio
    • Resume
    • Essay
    • A valid passport
    • Valid student visa
  • English Language Proficiency: Applicants with a native language other than English need to prove their proficiency by providing scores of TOEFL/ IELTS/DET/PTE.

School of Art Institute of Chicago Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance depends on several factors like the program applied for, tuition fees, housing, dining, etc. The estimated expenses at the School of Art Institute of Chicago are:

Expense Cost in USD
Tuition Fees For Undergraduate courses 1666 per credit hour
Tuition Fees For Graduate courses 1730 per credit hour
Room and Board 15490
Books and Supplies 1770
Other Expenses 2020

School of Art Institute of Chicago Scholarship

School of Art Institute of Chicago provides financial aid in the form of many scholarships, grants, and loans. The institute also provides on-campus work opportunities to the international students, for up to 20 hours per week for Fall/Spring semester and 40 hours for Summer/Winter semester. International Students are eligible for merit-based scholarships and can also look for scholarships to study in the US outside SAIC.

SAIC grants multiple scholarships namely, Competitive Excellence Award, The Tuition Exchange Scholarship, Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship. International students are advised to look for scholarships in their home country which may be beneficial for them.

School of Art Institute of Chicago Alumni

School of Art Institute of Chicago has a separate Alumni Association which registers the students once their graduation is completed. The alumni association arranges various employment workshops that enhance skills and provides career opportunities. The school provides a one-year free membership to the recent graduates, a discount of 5 USD on Gene Siskel Film Center for one year. It also provides access to the School of Art Institute of Chicago's John M. Flaxman Library. Some notable alumni are:

  • Georgia O'Keeffe
  • Elizabeth Murray
  • David Sedaris
  • Jeff Koons
  • Gladys Nilsson

School of Art Institute of Chicago Placements

SAIC does not provide any on-campus placements facility, although it provides job opportunities for students by CAPX through the Handshake college-to-career portal and also through on-campus job fairs. CAPX provides various jobs and internships and also on-campus employment opportunities for its students. CAPX jobs and internships are provided either in person or remotely.

CAPX provides Jobs and Internships for undergraduates, graduates, transfer students, and international students. The Handshake portal offers 2,945 jobs and 1,569 internships. Students can make an appointment with the career advisor to learn more about career resources and various career events and connect themselves with employers and peers through the Handshake portal.

CAPX advisor also provides personalized coaching to develop challenging and returning career paths. It has partnerships with over 2,000 local, national, and international employers and Internship providers. Students from SAIC were hired in industries like Architecture/Urban Planning, Arts and Entertainment, Design, Education, Fashion and Textile, Marketing and Advertising, Museums and Libraries, Nonprofit/Philanthropy. Some of the companies that offers jobs and internships approved by CAPX are Apple, Chicago Public Library Foundation, Dolce Vita, Jurassic Studio, Kaleidoscope, Latin School of Chicago, McMaster-Carr, National Museum of Mexican Art.

Some of the areas of Jobs offered by CAPX are Animator, Architect, Art Instructor, Artist, Assistant Art Buyer, Cinematographer, Costume Designer, Creative Director, Graphic Designer, Operations Specialist, Overseas Advertising Producer, Photographer, Product Designer, etc.