About
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) is a reputed private art school founded in 1866. It is located in the developed city of Chicago, Illinois. The institute has received various accreditations since its establishment. It has been accredited by Higher Learning Commission since 1936 and the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design since 1991. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has been among the prestigious members of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) since 1944 and developed a high reputation in the community.
What is the acceptance rate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
School of the Art Institute of Chicago acceptance rate is 79%.
School of the Art Institute of Chicago courses comprises more than 48 fields of programmes. It consists of five bachelor's and fourteen master's programmes for the students. The graduate, post-baccalaureate and undergraduate programmes are designed with an interdisciplinary curriculum to allow creative and innovative freedom for the designers, scholars, and artists. There are 3,600 students on the campus approximately with a population of 1,200 international students.
Top Reasons to Study in the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
SAIC is one of the highest historical affiliated independent institutions of art and design in the country. The college is dedicated to providing liberal arts, arts, and design education opportunities to all its students.
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago scholarships are based on merit. The students have to showcase extravagant levels of thoughtfulness, conceptual capabilities, academic skills, and creativity. The university provides scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate levels.
- The university has established and maintains highly certified relationships and exchange partnerships with other schools all around the world.
Admissions
Avg acceptance rate (Bachelors)
79%
Application Fee
$45 - $90
How to Apply at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- To apply for the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the students must register at the portal.
- The students must submit personal details and portfolios electronically through SlideRoom to apply for their desired courses.
- The portfolio requires the students to showcase 10-15 best and most recent works, showcase interests, skills, and creative potential, work in the preferred medium, and the range of work from abstract to observational, and submit present portfolio assignments.
- Students must post a dedicated portfolio for merit scholarship requirements.
- submit other supporting documents and assessments to support the application.
Note: Application Portal: Online application portal
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Application fee: For undergraduate: 85 USD (6,600 INR)
Graduate: 90 USD (7,000 INR)
Explore More: Admission requirement in USA
Documents Required to Apply to School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Letter of recommendation
- Artist statement
- Resume
- English proficiency test scores
- Standardised entrance test scores like the ACT, SAT, and GMAT
- Updated Portfolio
- Copy of passport
Exams Accepted By School of the Art Institute of Chicago
To fulfil the School of the Art Institute of Chicago admission requirements, the students must showcase the following skills in the standardised entrance test scores.
|
Exams |
Minimum Requirements |
|
SAT |
1120 to 1360 |
|
ACT |
22 to 29 |
|
PTE |
65 |
|
GMAT |
500 |
|
GRE |
293 |
English Proficiency Requirements
The students have to acquire the following English language proficiency skills in reading and writing sections.
|
Test |
Minimum Requirements |
|
TOEFL |
Internet Based: 82 |
|
IELTS |
6.5 |
|
Duolingo |
110 |
Campus Life
Campus locations
Illinois
Transportation in the city
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago provides a Ventra/Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) U-Pass for full-time students at the campus. The pass allows free and unlimited bus and rail transportation for winter, spring, summer, and fall semesters. It is mandatory for full-time students and is valid three days after the semester ends and four days before the start of the new semester.
Services offered by the university
- The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is well acquitted with all the necessary facilities that the students may need.
- SAIC has initiated a Food Pantry to provide food service to the students in need during emergency scenarios.
- LeRoy Neiman Center is a hall that brings the community of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago into the urban setting of Chicago. It consists of a street-level space for galleries, a video wall, and an event space for informal gatherings.
- SAIC offers the students a dining experience with sustainability. The cafes are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner service including late evening snacks and dining.
- The School of the Art Institute of Chicago issues U-Pass for travel and ARTICard for the identification card.
- SAIC has a multicultural affair, a facility that collaborates with students of different departments to create an atmosphere of mutual respect, inclusion, identities, experiences, and diverse perspectives.
Student life at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago campus includes seven buildings located close to the AIC building.
- SAIC provides the students the opportunity to connect with other peers, students, staff, and faculty members by participating in and forming associations and clubs on the campus.
- The School of the Art Institute of Chicago campus conducts seasonal art sales and allows the general public to shop the artworks created by hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students.
On campus accomodation at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of the Art Institute of Chicago provides on campus accommodations opportunities for the students. The students can find off-campus accommodation near the campus with the guidance and help of the college authorities.
- The residence halls are located close to the main campus.
- There are three residence halls available for the students namely Jones Hall, The Buckingham, and 162 North State Street Residence.
- The halls can offer accommodation for 700 students.
- The Jones Hall and 162 North State Street Residence feature single, double, and triple bedroom rooms with all the basic amenities.
- The Buckingham residence features an apartment-style living for the students.
Check: Cost of studying in USA
Faculty
University Faculty:Student Ratio
University Faculty Stats
International students are welcomed from more than 79 countries around the world and make up 33% of the total population. The male-to-female ratio at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 25:75. The student-to-faculty ratio at the campus is 11:1.
Career Opportunities
Internship opportunities at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago international students in the graduate and undergraduate programmes. The students can interact with fellow students or the authorities to find suitable employment opportunities at the campus.
Placement of School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago has a placement rate of 83%. The graduates of this institute find employment in their desired fields and industries. The average salary of a graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 65,000 USD (51,00,000 INR) per year.
Photo Gallery
Popular Courses · 13
B.S in Visual Communication Design
56,228
tuition / yr
MA in Modern and Contemporary Art
14,985
tuition / yr
Masters in Art Administration, Education, and Policy
19,980
tuition / yr
Masters in Art Education
Masters in Art Therapy and Counseling
Masters in Ceramics
Masters in Fibers and Material Studies
Masters in Historic Preservation Planning
Last updated August 14, 2026