Financial Aid: Applying for Financial Aid

To apply for financial aid at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, most commonly known as the FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov.

Expected Family Contribution

The FAFSA collects information about the student (and parents for dependent students) regarding income, number of family members, number of family members in college, and plans for college and determines a level of financial need for the student. SAIC uses the resulting Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to determine the amount of financial assistance to be provided to the student for their education.

Personal Identification Number

Completing the FAFSA is easy and convenient. A Personal Identification Number (PIN) for you and your parents (if applicable) will be required to complete the FAFSA online. Students and parents can secure a PIN at pin.ed.gov. A PIN number acts as a digital signature for signing the FAFSA, loan applications, and other financial aid documents.

Priority Deadline: March 1

SAIC's suggested priority deadline is March 1. Some types of assistance are limited in funding, so the earlier you apply, the better. SAIC begins issuing financial aid awards for eligible students in March each year.

Online Submission

Students will need to include SAIC's school code (001753) when completing the FAFSA. Also, the previous year's federal tax information for both the student and parents (if applicable) should be available for completion of the FAFSA. Once this information is collected, we suggest that students complete the FAFSA On The Web (FOTW) worksheet before inputting the information online. Once the FAFSA is submitted online, as long as the school code was included, SAIC will receive an electronic copy from the federal government. After completing the FAFSA and receiving confirmation it has been processed from the federal government, students must review and submit corrections at fafsa.gov within five days to ensure accurate financial aid estimates.

After successful completion of the FAFSA, all degree-seeking students will be sent an official Award Letter packet outlining financial aid options and the next steps required in the process. Typically, the award is based on full-time enrollment/standard enrollment for the program; any deviation from that condition may result in a change in the financial aid award. Most aid sources require the student to be enrolled at least half time.

Students desiring financial aid (including merit scholarships) for summer and winter terms must complete an SAIC Institutional Financial Aid application for the term.

On-Campus classes only
The hard copy form is available in the Student Financial Services office or may be obtained on the SAIC website.

Study trip applicants with or without on-campus classes
Students must complete the form electronically as part of SAIC's online Study Trip Registration Process.

Apply for Financial Aid Over the Internet (FAFSA)
How to Complete the FAFSA
2012–13 SAIC Financial Aid Application Procedure [PDF]