Chicago Graduate Portfolio Day + Open Studio Night

Saturday, October 21

Graduate Portfolio Day provides the opportunity for prospective students to meet one-on-one with faculty, receive immediate feedback on their portfolios, and learn more about the curricula, faculty, and application procedures from a number of colleges. RSVP.

A hallway lined with lockers and large canvases.
Graduate Studies

Explore Our Programs

SAIC offers graduate pathways in studio, design, and academic fields, along with post-baccalaureate certificates and a Low-Residency MFA. 

A picture of the modern wing of the Art Institute of Chicago.
In Person, Online, or Around the World

Meet SAIC

Take a tour of our campus, have a one-on-one portfolio review, meet with an admissions counselor, or watch information sessions from the comfort of home. 

Four Things You Should Know

    Making Begins & Ends with Meaning

    What do you want to say? How will you say it? From the art you produce to the scholarship you create, we help you ask the right questions to advance your practice.

    A person in a studio looking through pieces of art.

    We Cross Disciplines

    You can focus on one medium, but at SAIC you have the freedom to explore across departments as you identify how you want to make meaningful work, and to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with peers and faculty to advance your research.

    A person using a marker to sketch in a notebook.

    Rigorous Critique Is Key

    SAIC emphasizes critique as a way to develop a critical eye, gain confidence, and better understand your practice. You'll have opportunities to participate in several crit sessions, culminating in Critique Week, where interdisciplinary panels assess student work.

    Two people observing and discussing a light installation.

    Creative Kinship Is Your Future

    SAIC offers intimate settings for building connections with students from around the world that spark new insights and perspectives. You'll bond with artists, writers, and curators, and become part of a legacy of alums who’ve formed fruitful collaborations.

    Two people looking at large pieces of hanging wall art outside of a gallery.
    Graduate Scholarships & Aid

    Paying for Your Education

    Explore the range of financial aid options available at SAIC, including merit scholarships, grants, and employment opportunities.

    Field Trip: Grad Students visit Japan for the 2019 Setouchi Triennale

    “It was so rewarding to be able to experiment, create work, and collaborate with other brilliant and talented grad students in Japan. It allowed me to be pushed out of my comfort zone, and I’m thankful for the experience I was able to have.” – Billie Carter-Rankin

    Explore
    Image of islands from Setouchi Triennale

    Image: Japan Guide

    Graduate Viewbook cover, saic logo in white, painting in blue with red spotches

    Graduate Viewbook