About

About School of the Art Institute of Chicago

art and design focusedsmall class sizesstudio arts emphasislow student faculty ratio

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a community college in Chicago, IL, known for its art and design focused, small class sizes, and studio arts emphasis. With an acceptance rate of 79%, School of the Art Institute of Chicago is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 651 students each year. School of the Art Institute of Chicago is test optional; submitting a strong score can strengthen an application, though it is not required for consideration. School of the Art Institute of Chicago offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $24,984 per year; the sticker price of $70,923 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

School of the Art Institute of Chicago acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

79%
Overall Accept Rate

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to School of the Art Institute of Chicago

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Application Strategy
At SAIC, your portfolio carries more weight than your GPA or test scores, so spend the bulk of your preparation time curating 12 to 20 pieces that show range, risk-taking, and a clear artistic voice rather than polished technical perfection alone.
Essay Strategy
Use your personal statement to explain the thinking behind your creative process, not just what you make. SAIC faculty want to admit students who are curious and conceptually driven, so describe the questions or ideas that push your work forward.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What School of the Art Institute of Chicago actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$71k/yr$43.8k
30k-48k~$71k/yr$39.8k
48k-75k~$71k/yr$46.7k
75k-110k~$71k/yr$49.6k
110k+~$71k/yr$55.8k

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Personalize this page

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

64%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$27k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
8:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
2,638
Undergrad Enrollment
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch