Chicago, IL · Private · 2,805 undergraduates · urban
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Less selective
SAIC’s studio BFA removes conventional majors, letting students build an interdisciplinary practice across media while progressing through a required academic spine.
Institutional profile
Regionally focused Solid in student experience, and steady in academic standing.- Admission
- 76.4% admitted
- Price by income
- Varies across five income ranges
- Completion
- 69.1%
6,633 applicants in the reported year
Compare recent average annual costs by household income
$40,151 median earnings 10 years after enrollment
What sets School of the Art Institute of Chicago apart
Academic design
BFA students can move across departments without declaring a studio major, while required sophomore, professional-practice, and senior capstone courses provide structure.
Admission process
Most studio applicants submit 10 to 15 recent works plus an artist statement; portfolio expectations change for writing and art-history degrees.
Defining experience
The no-major BFA Studio model allows sustained work across disciplines without forcing students into a single medium-specific undergraduate department.
Can I get in?
76.4% admitted
Most studio applicants submit 10 to 15 recent works plus an artist statement; portfolio expectations change for writing and art-history degrees.
Recent applicant pool
6,633About 76 in every 100 applicants were admitted.
Record over scores
No score range is published for the entering class, so the transcript, the course rigor, and the required materials carry the file.
In the season card
Where your GPA sits in the entering class
The full entering-class GPA distribution for School of the Art Institute of Chicago, in nine bands from 4.0 down, with your own record marked on it.
See where I landIn the season card
What School of the Art Institute of Chicago weighs when it reads a file
See how this college describes the role of grades, testing, essays, recommendations, activities, and demonstrated interest.
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Essay
- Recommendations
- Extracurriculars
- Demonstrated interest
What moves the application
The evidence that separates a strong file
Clear the academic baseline
BFA students can move across departments without declaring a studio major, while required sophomore, professional-practice, and senior capstone courses provide structure.
Complete the specialized assessment
Most studio applicants submit 10 to 15 recent works plus an artist statement; portfolio expectations change for writing and art-history degrees.
Plan the process early
Portfolio requirements depend on the chosen degree, so confirm whether the application needs visual work, writing, or an academic writing sample.
How to apply
Rounds, route, and required materials
Portfolio requirements depend on the chosen degree, so confirm whether the application needs visual work, writing, or an academic writing sample.
$65 application fee
Major and program admission
Some fields have their own entry path.
The college admit rate above covers the university as a whole. These requirements apply only to the named program.
Performing and visual artsAdmits separately
What this program asks for, and when it closes.
Can I afford it?
Compare annual cost by household income.
Start with the average net price for your income range, then set that estimate beside your other realistic options.
In the season card
Average annual cost by household income at School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Compare recent average net prices across five federal income ranges and estimate a 4-year cost for yours.
- $0–30k
- $30–48k
- $48–75k
- $75–110k
- $110k+
Is it worth it?
Completion, debt, and earnings
Read completion, borrowing, field mix, and earnings together. For specialized training, compare those signals with the professional path you intend to follow.
Degree completion across the reported entering cohort
First-year students who return for year two
And what that comes to against what they earn.
Reported 10 years after enrollment
Academic portfolio
Largest bachelor’s fields
How many students finish in each field, and median earnings four years after completing the program.
Fine and Studio Arts
Admits separately
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
Visual and Performing Arts, General
Admits separately
What is campus life like?
School of the Art Institute of Chicago beyond the classroom
The urban campus sits in Chicago’s Loop beside the Art Institute, whose collections function as a recurring teaching and research resource.
The academic structure
BFA students can move across departments without declaring a studio major, while required sophomore, professional-practice, and senior capstone courses provide structure.
The campus rhythm
The urban campus sits in Chicago’s Loop beside the Art Institute, whose collections function as a recurring teaching and research resource.
What changes the experience
The no-major BFA Studio model allows sustained work across disciplines without forcing students into a single medium-specific undergraduate department.