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. 

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. 

Cost of Studying at School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Average tuition fee

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Living expenses

Average living expenses (Bachelors)

$19,240

Average living expenses (Masters)

$19,240

Average on-campus living expenses

$10,500

Admissions at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Avg acceptance rate (Bachelors)

59%

Application Fee

$85 - $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 the University

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 
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Courses

Find the updated list of courses available in this university

Masters in Architecture

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Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects

Application deadline

Rolling

Degree

Masters

Duration

36 Months

Tuition fee

$55,800/yr

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Masters in Visual Communication Design

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Visual Communication Design

Application deadline

Rolling

Degree

Masters

Duration

NA

Tuition fee

$55,800/yr

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MFA in Studio

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Visual Communication Design

Application deadline

Fall, 16/12/2023

Degree

Masters

Duration

24 Months

Tuition fee

$55,800/yr

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Campus

Campus locations
Illinois

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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

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

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

1:11

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.

Opportunities

Research opportunities at university

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is the place where innovation integrates with culture in unexpected ways. The Shapiro centre allows the students and faculty to initiate valuable research projects and activities in transformative, interdisciplinary mediums of design, science, art, social welfare, sustainability, and business. The centre collaborates and partners up with various associations to bring innovative and unique research capabilities

Internship opportunities (Part time job opportunities)

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 - Companies and average salaries offered

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.

Contact

Links

University Website International University Website University Brochure

Email

admiss@saic.edu

Address

36 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60603, United States

Social media

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