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Why SAIC

SAIC Rankings & Accolades

Among the Top Fine Arts Schools in the US

Five disciplines ranked in the U.S. News & World Report top 10:

#2 in Painting & Drawing
#3 in Photography
#4 in Sculpture
#5 in Time-Based Media/New Media
#6 in Printmaking

Ranked the #2 Fine Arts Program

among art and design colleges by U.S. News & World Report. 

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#2
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“The most influential art school in the United States”

—Art Critics National Arts Journalism Survey

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National & Global Recognition

One of the Best Art Colleges in the World

#2 Best Art School in the Country — CollegeAdvisor 

#2 Best Art School in the US — Empowerly 

#5 Best Art School in the US — Art & Object 

#11 Art and Design Program in the World — QS World University Rankings

Explore Our Programs
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Fulbright U.S. Student Program

Top Producer of Fulbright Grant Recipients

SAIC is the top producer of Fulbright U.S. Student Program grant recipients among all art and design schools over the past five years. 

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Visual Communication Design

Outstanding Graphic Design School

Ranked a top graphic design school by Graphic Design USA, the School offers a BFA in Studio and MFA in Studio through our Visual Communication Design program. 

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More Rankings & Recognition

SAIC is recognized as one of the top art schools in the US and ranks among the best art and design schools in the world.

MSP Animation Studio Student Works on Frame

Among the Top 20 Best Animation Schools in the US

Ranked in the top 20 animation schools in the US by Animation Career Review. 

SAIC Campus Tour

Our Top-Ranked Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago is the only museum in the world to be top-ranked by TripAdvisor four years in a row.

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Our Award-Winning Student-Run Newspaper

SAIC’s student-run newspaper, F Newsmagazine, received the Illinois College Press Association Sweepstakes Award for the most awards won at the 2024 conference.