Admitted Students

In order to make online deposits, view financial aid, and review billing information, you will need to activate your ARTIC account. This account will also provide you with access to your SAIC email, Self Service, library databases, and much more.

Please note that you will need your SAIC ID number (included in your admission letter) in order to complete this process. Additionally, you must complete the activation process using a web browser on a computer rather than from your mobile phone or tablet.

Activate your account by visiting password.artic.edu. You will be asked for:

• Your 7-digit SAIC ID Number (included on your admission letter)
• Your birthday (two digit day, dash, and all caps three digit month) Example: 19-AUG

Your login is automatically assigned, but you will create your own password. Passwords must be at least 10 characters and contain an uppercase letter, lowercase letter, and a symbol.

Once you have activated your account, visit saic.edu/students to access Self-Service and your email through Google Apps.

If you need help with your ARTIC account, contact Technical Support at 312.345.3535 or crithelpdesk@saic.edu.

How to Apply

In order to be eligible for need-based aid such as SAIC, state and federal grants, loans and work study you need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov. You can access helpful information on completing the FAFSA at studentaid.gov/help-center including Aidan, the financial aid virtual assistant. File your FAFSA early as some types of assistance are limited, and may have early deadlines. Find more information at saic.edu/sfs and saic.edu/applyfa.

• We encourage you to file the FAFSA even if you aren't sure you will qualify for financial aid.
• Students admitted for Spring 2023 should complete the 2022-23 FAFSA. We suggest you complete it by January 1, using 2020 income tax information. Use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in the FASFA to easily transfer your income data from the IRS.
• To apply for financial aid for summer/ fall 2023 and subsequent semesters, you will complete the 2023–24 FAFSA using 2021 income tax information. Complete it by December 1 (Illinois residents) or January 1 (all other students).
• International students do not file the FAFSA.

An official award letter and an email outlining your financial aid offer will be sent to you once your file has been reviewed and your eligibility has been determined. You can also view your financial aid offer in Self-Service.

Merit Scholarship

You are reviewed for SAIC's merit-based scholarship (based on a holistic review of your application and not on need) once you have been admitted to SAIC. No additional paperwork or applications are necessary. Find more information at saic.edu/ugmerit.

Outside Scholarships

We recommend searching sources like fastweb.com or speaking with your high school or college counselor about other local scholarship opportunities. Also consider scholarships offered by any professional, community, or religious organizations of which you are a member. For additional outside scholarship sources and information, visit saic.edu/faresources.

Figure Your Costs Budgeting Worksheet

Complete this worksheet available in your Financial Aid Award Guide or online at saic.edu/tuition/figureyourcosts to determine if you have enough financial resources to cover your entire annual cost of attendance. You may need to apply for additional credit-based loans such as the Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan or Private loans. These loans are only available to credit-worthy borrowers.

Loan Entrance Counseling Sessions and Applications

Entrance counseling sessions for Federal Direct Stafford loans, and loan applications for Federal Direct Stafford, Federal Direct Parent PLUS, and Private loans should be completed no later than July 1. Please note: the Federal PLUS loan and Private loan programs are credit-based and may not be available to some applicants.

Important Dates for Students Starting in the Spring Semester

Important Dates for Students Starting in the Fall Semester

Need Help?

Our Student Financial Services Advisors are here at every step in the process to help you finance your education at SAIC. Don't hesitate to contact us at 312.629.6600, email us at saic.sfs@saic.edu, or access our online Q&A at saic.force.com/sfshelp. Virtual and telephone appointments can also be scheduled online at saic.edu/sfs.

Helpful Tips

• 3–5 days after you file your online FAFSA, you will be emailed a confirmation. Review your processed FAFSA carefully to ensure that you have supplied the correct data and follow any further instructions.
• There may be questions you need to answer based on information you provided on the FAFSA. We will contact you by postal mail and email if we need clarification or additional documentation. Please respond as soon as you receive this request to avoid any delay in processing your financial aid. Items are also listed in Self-Service under the "Tasks" tile.
• If you feel the FAFSA has not accurately represented your financial situation, or there has been a change in family finances—loss of employment, separation, divorce or death, for example—you should contact the Student Financial Services office to discuss your circumstances with an advisor.

Schedule a registration appointment for Spring: Beginning November 16, you can make your registration appointment by contacting Sioban Lombardi at at slombardi@saic.edu / 312.629.6126.  Registration will begin on November 29. 

Schedule a registration appointment for Fall: Beginning April 1, you can make your registration appointment online. The deadline for freshmen to schedule a registration appointment for fall classes is June 15. 

If you have any questions feel free to contact the Admissions office between 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (CT) at 800.232.7242 or 312.629.6100. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Options for Course Registration

Phone registration: If you schedule a phone appointment, an admission counselor will call you at a phone number you designate to help select your courses. Appointments will last between 30–45 minutes.

Virtual registration: Virtual registration through Zoom or Google Hangouts can also be arranged. When scheduling your appointment or corresponding with your counselor, please let them know your preferences. Appointments will last between 30–45 minutes.

Before You Register

AP, CLEP or IB Credit and Scores: During your registration appointment, please make sure you inform your counselor that you have AP, CLEP or IB scores which you will be submitting officially to the Admissions office. SAIC awards 3 credits for scores of 3–5 on any AP subject test. For IB, SAIC will award 6 credit hours for scores of 4-7 at the higher level (HL) only. SAIC awards a combined maximum of 12 credit hours.

Academic Access Program:  SAIC’s Academic Access Program is a first year college program that enables students to advance their critical thinking, analytical reading, and college writing skills prior to beginning our rigorous Liberal Arts and Art History requirements. Information regarding Academic Access Program placement and requirements will be provided to students prior to registering for classes. For more information, visit saic.edu/faap.

English Courses for International Students (EIS): International students with a TOEFL score below 96, IELTS score below 7.0, Duolingo score below 120, or PTE Academic score below 65 must register for EIS courses. International students who are required to take EIS courses may take an optional EIS confirmation test during orientation. This test confirms your placement into EIS classes.

Transferring Credit: College-level equivalent courses for which a student has received a grade equivalent to "C" or better are eligible for transfer. These include early college courses taken at SAIC or other institutions.

Transfer students seeking advanced studio placement within the departments of Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects; and Visual Communication Design MUST respectively provide technical and conceptual examples of their work in order to waive prerequisite studio coursework specific to these departments. Please inform your counselor if you are currently enrolled in any courses or plan to enroll in courses this summer at your local college or university.

Submit Your Final Transcripts

Send us your final, official transcript(s) by January 15 for Spring, and August 15 for Fall. All admission decisions are subject to evaluation of final high school transcripts and must be received by these dates.

Send transcript(s) to admiss@saic.edu,

OR

Your counselor may upload your final transcripts through the Common Application.

Accept or Waive Health Insurance

Health insurance coverage is required for all full-time domestic undergraduate students and for all international students. If you wish to accept SAIC's coverage you need not do anything further and the charge will be applied to your account. Visit saic.edu/health for more information.

You may waive health insurance by doing the following:

1. Complete a waiver form by the end of the first day of classes (available at saic.myahpcare.com); AND
2. Provide proof that your coverage meets SAIC's minimum standards; AND
3. Allow SAIC's designee, Academic HealthPlans, to verify your coverage.

Please note: If you are a full-time domestic student and then drop to part-time before the end of the add/drop period, the health insurance charge will automatically be removed from your account and health insurance coverage will not be provided. Health insurance coverage can be reinstated if you request health insurance online through saic.myahpcare.com.

COVID-19 Immunization Requirements

SAIC requires COVID-19 vaccines for all students who intend to be on campus for ANY period of time. All new students who have not already done so must show proof of being fully vaccinated by January 1, 2023. Students who are not fully vaccinated or have an approved religious/medical exemption will not be allowed access to campus nor be able to attend in-person classes. Students who do not show proof or receive a medical/religious exemption will have their in-person classes dropped will not have access to campus as of the first day of classes. Important details are as follows: 

• A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks or more after receiving their second dose in a two-dose vaccine or two weeks or more after receiving one dose of a single-dose vaccine.
• SAIC will accept any COVID-19 vaccine approved for emergency use by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO).
• Students who have not been able to obtain an approved vaccination before arriving on campus will need to be vaccinated as soon as possible upon arrival. SAIC’s Health Services office can direct you to a local vaccine provider.
• Students who live on campus will not be able to move in unless they are fully vaccinated or have an approved religious/medical exemption. However, students who are coming from abroad and are unable to receive a WHO approved vaccine but are fully vaccinated with a non-WHO approved vaccine will be able to move in and test while they are getting their WHO-approved vaccines.
• As is the case with all of our immunization requirements, medical and religious exemptions will be accommodated for the COVID-19 vaccine. The expectation, however, is that our campus will overwhelmingly consist of vaccinated individuals, greatly reducing the risk of infection for all. More details.
• If you’ve completed or partially completed a COVID-19 vaccine series with a vaccine that has not been approved for emergency use by the FDA or WHO, you will need to receive an approved vaccine. The minimum interval between the last dose of a non-FDA or WHO authorized vaccine and an FDA or WHO-authorized COVID-19 vaccine is 28 days.

We continue to follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), and the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and will let you know if there are any changes in guidance.

Please submit your proof of COVID-19 vaccination as soon as you are vaccinated, but no later than January 1 for Spring and July 1 for Fall. 

Details about submitting your records can be found here. For questions related to immunizations, visit our FAQ page or contact SAIC’s Health Services office at healthservices@saic.edu. For questions related to housing or guidance for international students, please contact SAIC’s Student Life team at stulife@saic.edu.

Other Immunization Records

Illinois State law requires proof of immunization for all college students enrolled for six or more credits per semester. Proof of immunization is due by January 1 for students admitted for Spring and July 1 for students admitted for Fall. Students who are noncompliant will not be permitted to register for the next term. Please see saic.edu/health for immunization requirement details and record submission instructions.

Questions?

Contact the SAIC Health Services Office at 312.499.4288 or healthservices@saic.edu.

Laptop Requirement

All incoming undergraduate students, with the exception of second-degree students, are required to own a laptop prior to the first day of classes. Detailed information can be located at saic.edu/laptop.

*Due to possible supply chain issues and delays with shipping, SAIC highly suggests that if you are buying a new laptop before arriving at SAIC, that you purchase it as soon as you can and do not wait until right before the school term begins.

Questions? For questions regarding software and hardware, contact 312.345.3738, option 1, or laptop@saic.edu.

SAIC ARTICard (ID Card)

The ARTICard is SAIC's mandatory identification card which provides access to facilities, equipment, and library books, as well as providing debit card capabilities on campus and at select off-campus sites. It can be used to make copies, print projects, do laundry, purchase books and supplies, and buy food. There is no membership fee, service charge or minimum balance. The balance carries over from semester to semester, year to year until the account is closed.

ARTICards are available for pick up by appointment from the ARTICard office. In order to avoid long wait times, students are encouraged to send in their photos electronically at least one week before their appointment. Visit saic.edu/articard for more details.

Deposits to your ARTICard can be made by cash or check at the ARTICard Office, via mail by check or money order (ARTICard Office, 37 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL 60603), or online with a credit card or electronic check (see instructions for depositing online at saic.edu/articard). Make checks payable to SAIC.

Questions? Contact ARTICard/U-Pass office at 312.629.9362 or articard@saic.edu.

Ventra U-Pass

The U-Pass entitlement, loaded onto a Ventra U-Pass card, allows full-time students unlimited use of CTA (Chicago Transit Authority) bus and rail transportation each fall, spring, summer and winter term. The Ventra U-Pass card can be used as a full fare card whenever the U-Pass entitlement is not active. The cost of the U-Pass entitlement is $155* per fall and spring semester, a savings of over $200 when compared with regular CTA fares. A $35* U-Pass fee will be charged to full-time students during the winter session, and a $115 U-Pass fee will be charged to full-time students during the summer session.

This mandatory fee is automatically charged to all full-time students’ tuition and fee accounts each semester. A one-time $5 fee, which covers the cost of the card, will also be charged to each full-time student’s account for the initial issuance of the Ventra U-Pass card. The Ventra U-Pass is distributed during the first week of school and should be kept for subsequent semesters. Incoming transfer students who hold a Ventra U-Pass card from their previous school can contact the ARTICard office to have their card information transferred to SAIC.

Questions? Contact the ARTICard/U-Pass office at 312.629.9362 or articard@saic.edu.

* Price is subject to change.

Text Books

The DePaul University/Barnes & Noble College Bookstore, located at the corner of Jackson Blvd. and State St. (1 East Jackson Boulevard), is SAIC’s designated primary provider for textbooks and course packet services. The store provides a space in the textbook area of the lower level for all SAIC class book titles and course packets (all SAIC books and course packets are found under the department “SAIC” and are then organized alphabetically by SAIC department). The store accepts ARTICard for purchases, and also buys and sells used textbooks.

You can access SAIC class book lists at depaul-loop.bncollege.com. From the top tab, choose “Textbooks,” select “DePaul University Loop Campus” as your campus. The upcoming term for SAIC will be displayed- enter the requested course information to find materials for your course.

Please note: Many courses may not have books or supplies listed until the beginning of the semester.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago expects academic performance and standards of behavior to remain consistent with the record presented upon admission. Your admission is contingent upon maintaining the same level of academic achievement as demonstrated in your application, graduation from secondary school or completion of credits at a post-secondary institution.

Students are subject to revocation of their admission if coursework completed before the intended term of enrollment at SAIC does not meet our academic standards that are required for admission. This includes any significant declines in academic performance, such as failing senior/final year of high school or final semester of college. It is the student's responsibility to advise SAIC of, and explain, any serious decline in grades or course changes that were not presented in their application. In addition if the School of the Art Institute has reason to suspect an applicant's high school diploma, transcript, assessment test scores or other information is fraudulent or not valid, The Office of Admissions reserves the right to revoke admission in cases where fraudulence is found.

It is also important that high standards of behavior and conduct are maintained. Misconduct that occurs or comes to light after admission, such as disciplinary action in high school or college that leads to suspension, expulsion, criminal charges, or convictions, or other serious behavioral incidents may be cause for rescinding the admission decision.