School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Graduate Programs and Deadlines

Explore graduate study at the most influential art and design school in the United States.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Graduate Programs and Deadlines
SAIC Galleries, work shown clockwise from top: Rong Bao, Heidi Wanzek, & Decheng Cui.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) graduate programs, ranked among the top two independent art and design programs in the nation by US News and World Report, applaud experimentation and encourage students to cross disciplines and explore concepts unbound to any one medium or academic department in the realization of impactful work.

Program offerings include MFA, MA, MArch, MDes, MS and Low-Residency MFA degrees, and a NEW MA in Curatorial Practices. 

For those interested in joining the SAIC community, the reduced application fee deadline for graduate programs is December 1, and the final application deadline is January 10, 2027. 

For a list of programs, application requirements, and to apply online, visit saic.edu/gradapp.

To join virtual or in-person events, schedule a one-on-one meeting with an admissions counselor, or take a campus tour,  visit saic.edu/grevents.