Chicago National Portfolio Day
Event Details
Sunday, October 4, 2026, 12:00–4:00 p.m. (CT)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC)
280 S. Columbus Dr.
Chicago, IL 60603
RSVP required at nationalportfolioday.org
The event will be hosted from 12:00–4:00 p.m. (CT) at SAIC's 280 Building. You may begin to line up outdoors starting at 11:00 a.m. (CT). The venue is accessible by public transportation, and more info on traveling to our campus can be found by visiting:
SAIC invites you to one of the nation’s largest portfolio days with representatives from nearly 50 nationally accredited art schools and universities on hand to discuss your work and assist you in pursuing an education in the visual arts. High school students, parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and college transfer students are encouraged to attend this four-hour educational event, created for emerging visual artists and designers. Representatives from colleges of art and design will review artwork, discuss programs, and answer questions about creative and professional careers.
This is an educational event—no admissions decisions or scholarship awards will be offered. Portfolios should include your best and most recent work, but can also include works in progress, sketchbooks, and tear sheets—it is not necessary to mat or frame work. Bring original artwork whenever possible, and keep your presentation simple; the work itself is what is important.
We look forward to meeting you and seeing what you do! If you have any questions, please call us at 800.232.7242 or 312.629.6100, or email ugadmiss@saic.edu.
For more info on SAIC's admission process and other events for prospective students, visit saic.edu/ug.
Join us for a Pre-NPD Event "Saturday with SAIC"
Save the Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
SAIC
280 S. Columbus Drive
Chicago, IL 60603
RSVP
Check-in begins: 2:30 p.m. CT
Presentation: 3:00 p.m. CT
Prepare for National Portfolio Day with Saturday with SAIC! This event will feature the presentation “Portfolio Day Survival Guide” to help you make the most of your National Portfolio Day experience, including portfolio preparation tips for both admission and merit scholarship. Campus tours will be offered, and current students, faculty, and staff will be on hand to answer your questions!
NPD Participating Schools
2026 participating schools:
Alberta University of the Arts AUArts
Alfred University School of Art and Design
Art Academy of Cincinnati
ArtCenter College of Design
Belmont University - Watkins College of Art
BGSU School of Art
Boston University School of Visual Arts
California Institute of the Arts
Cleveland Institute of Art
College for Creative Studies
Columbus College of Art & Design
Concordia University
Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University
Drexel University, Westphal College of Media Arts & Design
Fashion Institute of Technology
Ferris State University's Kendall College of Art and Design
Frostic School of Art at Western Michigan University
Goldsmiths, University of London
Herron School of Art and Design, IU Indianapolis
Illinois State University Wonsook Kim School of Art
Iowa State University College of Design
Kansas City Art Institute
Laguna College of Art + Design
Maine College of Art & Design
Maryland Institute College of Art
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Montserrat College of Art
Northern Illinois University
OCAD University
Otis College of Art and Design
Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University
Paris College of Art
Parsons School of Design and Parsons Paris at The New School
Pratt Munson College of Art and Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Ringling College of Art & Design
RIT College of Art and Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University
SMU Meadows School of the Arts
Syracuse University College of Visual and Performing Arts
The Cooper Union
The University of Kansas
University of Illinois
Virginia Commonwealth University VCUarts
WashU Sam Fox School