School of the Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is an independent art school offering undergraduate (BFA/BA) and graduate (MFA/MA) programmes; key requirements are a portfolio of 10–15 works via SlideRoom and an English test such as IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 82.
Chicago, United StatesIndependent art schoolsaic.edu
Schools and subjects
- BFA in Studio (13 art and design directions)
- Art History
- Writing
- Architecture / Interior Architecture / Designed Objects
- Art Education
- Art & Technology / Sound Practices
Listed under: architecture schools, interior design schools, product and industrial design schools, fine art schools.
Undergraduate requirements
BFA, BA
Submit 10–15 best and recent works, uploaded via SlideRoom within the Common Application; no media restrictions, no set topic; images .jpg/.gif/.png (72 dpi, no side exceeding 600 px), video/audio have total duration limits.
Non-native English-speaking international students must submit: TOEFL minimum 82 (before January 2026) / 4.5 (from January 2026); IELTS 6.5; PTE 55; Duolingo 110. (Art History BA requires higher.)
$59,460/year (30 credits), 2026–27 academic year; $1,982 per credit. Also includes technology fee $500/semester, health insurance (if not waived) $3,940/year.
Fall EA and priority scholarship: 15 November; final scholarship: 15 January; final application: 15 April. Spring priority scholarship: 1 November; final application: 1 January.
No interview requirement mentioned on the website (portfolio submitted via SlideRoom).
Postgraduate requirements
MFA, MA, MArch, MDes, MS, Low-Residency MFA
Must submit ePortfolio (SlideRoom), requirements vary by programme; e.g. MFA in Studio generally 15–20 still images or up to 15 minutes of time-based work; Fashion, Body and Garment MFA at least 5 projects up to 20 images. Images .jpg/.gif/.pdf (≤5MB), video ≤60MB, text must be .pdf.
Non-exempt international students must submit: TOEFL IBT minimum 85 (before 21 January 2026) / 4.5 (after); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 120.
$61,980/year (30 credits), 2026–27 academic year; $2,066 per credit. Also includes technology facilities fee $1,000/year, health insurance (if not waived) $3,940/year.
Application fee waiver deadline: 1 December; final application deadline: 10 January.
No interview requirement mentioned on the website.
Other notes
The first year is a foundational course (exploring contemporary art practice); no fixed major, students develop across departments. Pre-college/bridge programme: Early College Program Summer Institute (ECPSI), for ages 15–18 who have completed sophomore year, earns college credit and prepares portfolio (1/2/4 weeks, with residence). URL: https://www.saic.edu/high-school-programs/early-college-program-summer-institute
All admitted students are automatically evaluated for merit scholarships with no separate application; international students are assessed at the time of admission. Need-based aid is mainly for US domestic (FAFSA); international students cannot apply for federal aid and may seek external scholarships. URL: https://www.saic.edu/cost-financial-aid/international/financial-aid-scholarships
Any work in the portfolio assisted or generated by AI must describe the creative process and tools used (e.g. Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Dall-E, Wombo), stated in the description field when uploading via SlideRoom. URL: https://www.saic.edu/admissions/undergraduate/how-apply-freshman
Sources for this page
- https://www.saic.edu/
- https://www.saic.edu/admissions/undergraduate/how-apply-freshman
- https://www.saic.edu/cost-financial-aid/undergraduate/cost-fees
- https://www.saic.edu/admissions/graduate/application-process
- https://www.saic.edu/cost-financial-aid/graduate/cost-fees
Taken from the school’s website and checked on 2026-10-27. Schools change their requirements every year; open the official pages above to confirm the current version before you apply.