School of the Art Institute of Chicago
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School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Courses, Admission, Cost

Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 8 Oct '25

About School of the Art Institute of Chicago

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Year of establishment
1866
Also known as
SAIC
University website
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Student website
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Total foreign students
1201
No. of campus
1
Scholarships granted
2792
Scholarship amount granted
USD 47 million
Application fees
USD 85
English proficiency test
Required
Accepted exams
SAT/ACT accepted
Not required
Total faculty
144
Faculty/Student ratio
11
Male/Female ratio
2.89
UG/PG course ratio
1.75
Total criminal offences
65
Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Highlights
Q:   What is School of the Art Institute of Chicago known for?
A: 

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is known for being the finest institution and a global leader in educating and creating eminent artists from various sectors. The college provides so many facilities such as hi-tech classrooms, auditoriums, conference halls, well-stocked libraries, well-equipped labs, and expert faculty. 

Partnerships with the Glasgow School of Art in the UK have also made the college come into the limelight. Moreover, it is a member of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, the American Association for Higher Education, the National Art Education Association, and the American Association of University Women.

Q:   Why do Indian students choose to study at School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
A: 

Indian students choose to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. SAIC is one of the finest institutions and a global leader in educating and creating eminent artists from various sectors. It provides a high-class infrastructure including hi-tech classrooms, auditoriums, conference halls, well-stocked libraries, well-equipped labs, and expert faculty. SAIC has interactive sessions with eminent personalities during seminars, workshops, and conferences. The classroom doesn't comprise just the classroom lectures. 

Having ranked 10 by the QS Rankings in Art and Design, the institution has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission since 1936 it is Chater member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design since 1948.

 

Q:   Will my campus life be better at School of the Art Institute of Chicago than staying off-campus?
A: 

Yes, student's campus life is better at School of Art Institute of Chicago than staying off campus. No other experience is even comparable to living with other artists and designers, exchanging ideas, supporting one another and growing together. Living on campus makes it easy to immerse yourself in the SAIC experience and makes the students feel that they are a part of the community. Residence Life staff plan activities help to build relationships, connect with the city, and get to know what SAIC has to offer. SAIC ensures a secure living environment through controlled access and 24-hour security staff.

Q:   What are the popular Indian restaurants near School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
A: 

The popular Indian students near the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are:

  1. Campus Center Cafe: Being located on the second floor of the Neiman Center Campus Centre Cafe offers specialty coffee drinks to daily specials at the hot buffet.
  2. 280 Cafe: It consists of a wide array of sandwiches & salads, stir fry, choices from the hot frill, grab-and-go options, and tasty desserts.
  3. Mac Lean Cafe: The MacLean Center Café offers breakfast items, sandwiches, specialty coffee drinks, and many grab-go offerings. It is a perfect place for before or after class, or for your mid-class break.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago Ranking 2025

School of the Art Institute of Chicago Admission 2026

  • Application fees :No Fees
  • Type of deadline :Regular
Document IconDocuments
Type of documentsApplicable for
SOPNeeded for all courses
LORNeeded for all courses
EssaysNot required
CVNeeded for all courses
Additional documentsRequired
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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   What is acceptance rate of School of Art Institute of Chicago?
A: 

Getting admission in School of the Art Institute of Chicago is not tough. Acceptance rate of university is 79% which shows that out of 100 students, 79 enter college. The college is not highly selective as far as admission is concerned.

Average SAT score required for students to get admitted is 1230.

ACT score required is between 22 and 25. The average GPA of the students to get admission is 3.55. These criteria are not so difficult to fulfill.
 
Q:   How is School of Art Institute of Chicago for international students?
A: 

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is good for international students. Approx 30% of total student body is from other countries. The availability of a public transportation system includes a subway,an elevated train, and buses that will bring out an experience of 77 culturally diverse neighborhoods. The Office of International Affairs is highly experienced in supporting the needs and interests of international students from different backgrounds. The services it provides are:-

1. Orientation of the students before each semester.
2. Assistance with visas, pre-arrival, and arrival concerns.
3. Workshops on topics from immigration regulations to resources for achieving academic, financial, and personal goals.

Q:   Can an average Indian student join School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
A: 

An average Indian student can join the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The entry requirements are:-

  1. 4 year baccalaureate degree or its equivalent is required.
  2. TOEFL score- 85
  3. IELTS score- 6.5
  4. Official transcripts, SOP, 2 LORs, ePortfolio and interview are required.

Tier 1 or Tier 2 colleges students can easily meet these requirements.

 

Q:   What are deadlines for Indian students to submit applications at School of Art Institute of Chicago?
A: 

The deadlines for submitting applications for the Indian students at the School of Art Institute of Chicago are:-

For the undergraduate programs:

  1. Merit Action deadline- November 15.
  2. Merit Scholarship deadline for the first year- January 15.
  3. Merit and the Final Application Deadline: April 15.

For the graduate programs:

  1. Priority Application Deadline- December 1.
  2. Final Application Deadline January 10.

 

SAIC
Scholarships

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
On Scholarships
Q:   What are the top scholarships for Indian students at School of the Art Institute of Chicago? How do I avail them?
A: 

The top scholarships for Indian students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the methods to avail them are:-

  1. Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships: It offers Scholarships up to $100,000, especially for the Indian students.
  2. Fulbright Foreign Student Program: It covers tuition and living expenses for graduate studies in the US. International students can apply for this.
  3.  SAIC Travel Scholarships: This Scholarship assists International students with travel and tuition expenses. To avail of this scholarship you need to have a portfolio, a 250-word travel proposal, and an application form.

 

School of the Art Institute of Chicago Fees

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Courses1st Year Tuition FeesDuration & Eligibility
Others UG(1 course)
Duration4 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 6.5 & Above, TOEFL: 80 & Above, PTE: 55 & Above, Duolingo
M.A.(2 courses)
INR 36 L - 42 LGet Fee Details
Duration18 months-2 years
Exam AcceptedIELTS: 6.5 - 7, TOEFL: 85 - 96, PTE: 65 & Above, Duolingo
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SAIC
Student profile

Quick university statsInsights on student demographics, enrolment, and academic success
UG Race

Others

73%

Hispanic

11%

Asian

10%

Black

4%

UG Student residence

Out of state

62%

Foreign

25%

In state

11%

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UG Number of Applicant

6075
grad RateIcon

Overall Graduation Rate

67

College comparison

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Compare SAIC with other similar colleges

Others UG
M.A.
College1st Year Tuition FeesRanking
INR 48.35 L -/-
INR 12.34 L -/-
The values are of the latest years available with Shiksha. For more details, check detailed comparison
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SAIC
Studying in USA

Key Facts About USA

Insights on education, demographics & weather.
Education in USA
school Key Fact Icon
963+
backpack Key Fact Icon
3.38L
cashRegister Key Fact Icon
20 hours per week
cashRegister Key Fact Icon
12 months
Country stats
mapPin Key Fact Icon
Washington D.C.
keyUsers Key Fact Icon
347.28M (2025)
chartMixed Key Fact Icon
2%
letterA Key Fact Icon
English
Weather
January
CF
Popular LocationsMinMax
Boston-53
New York-34
Chicago-60
Los Angeles1020
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School of the Art Institute of Chicago Campus Life

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Comments

qna

SAIC

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a year ago

A lot of students are able to hold a part time job while studying at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) due to the different opportunities available on campus and even outside the campus. To help them find places to do internship, assistantship or work in study, SAIC developed a thoro

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Ravi Babu

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a year ago

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the world is ranked among top 10 arts and design schools in the World by QS World University Rankings. It is also ranked as 11 in QS World University Rankings by subject 2023. Columbia University's National Art Journalism also named it "The Most Influent

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P

Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a year ago

To apply to the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, apply online through a common application. The application fee is $65 for the US Applicants and $85 for the International applicants. Submit a portfolio that gives them a sense of you, your interests, and your willingness to experiment, explore

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Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a year ago

The student's reviews of the School of the Art Institute are generally positive. It is rated 4.0 at Niche. Students are amazed by the broad range of people with different backgrounds, and interests that all come together in this art school.

P

Priya

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a year ago

Yes, Columbus College of Art and Design is cheaper than the School of Art Institute of Chicago.The cost comparison is mentioned below-

  • Columbus College of Art and Design (CCAD)-
    • Tuition-$40,824 per year.
    • Total estimated cost (including room and board, books and other expenses)-Around $59,865 per year.
  • S

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Misha

Contributor-Level 10

About the author

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joisha verma

Study Abroad Expert

Joisha is a passionate writer, specialized in writing engaging and meaningful content with skilled research and styles.
SAIC Others(1)School of the Art Institute of Chicago
SAIC Others(2)Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio
SAIC Others(3)Classroom
SAIC Others(1)
SAIC Others(2)

SAIC
Location

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University CityChicago, Illinois, USA
Size of cityLarge
Population of City27,16,450

SAIC
Campuses

Departments Icon1   Campuses
North CampusUp Arrow Icon
Address

E Monroe St, Chicago Loop, IL 60603, United States

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SAIC
Contact Information

Address

E Monroe St, Chicago Loop, IL 60603, United States
Chicago ( Illinois)

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