School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Private
- Arts
School of the Art Institute of Chicago: international tuition 59,460 USD per year, one-year total cost ≈ 75,625 USD, acceptance rate 77.5%. Merit scholarships are open to international students. Published minimum English scores: IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110.
Yes: a Vietnamese first-year applicant, as an international student, may be eligible for SAIC merit-based scholarships during admission. Need-based aid, need-blind admission, and an international-specific aid form are not established in the supplied pages.
Getting in. The school admits 77.5% of applicants. The SAT range of admitted students is not published. The SAT and ACT are optional: a score counts if you send one, and you can still apply without it. For English, the school asks for IELTS 6.5+ or Duolingo 110+.
Cost for a year. One year comes to about 75,625 USD, before any scholarship. There is 1 scholarship, but none says international students can apply, so nothing is taken off yet. Health insurance is 3,940 USD a year.
Deadline and visa. The application deadline for fall is 15/11. You apply through Common Application. How long the visa takes is up to the consulate; see the country note.
Admissions checked 13/10/2026Cost checked 11/10/2026
What is the tuition at School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
International tuition is 59,460 USD per year. The total cost for one year is ≈ 75,625 USD.
Does School of the Art Institute of Chicago offer scholarships for international students?
Merit scholarships are open to international students. Yes: a Vietnamese first-year applicant, as an international student, may be eligible for SAIC merit-based scholarships during admission. Need-based aid, need-blind admission, and an international-specific aid form are not established in the supplied pages.
What English scores does School of the Art Institute of Chicago require?
Published minimum English scores: IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 110.
What is the acceptance rate at School of the Art Institute of Chicago?
The acceptance rate is 77.5%.
- Pay in fullYesPay in fullOnce admitted you can enrol straight away — no scholarship decision to wait for.Your family covers all tuition and living costs for every year of the degree.You will need: your application and proof that your family can pay — the school needs it to issue your visa documents.
- Aid with the offerUnclearAid with the offerThe school decides aid while reviewing your application, so any need-based or merit award arrives with the offer.The school has merit scholarships for international students, but does not say whether they are automatic or need their own application.
- Apply separately for scholarshipsUnclearApply separately for scholarshipsOn top of the admission application, you send a separate scholarship application or get nominated.The pages we read mention no scholarship with its own application. Not seeing one does not mean there is none — ask the school.
For Vietnamese students
Vietnamese community nearby
Students on campus lifeiPublic YouTube videos by students and the school, matched to this school's name; Vietnamese videos first. Each reflects its creator's own view.
- ChiMy Shimmy2023Vlog
Contact
Tuition and cost for a year
Compared with 727 private United States schools with published tuition in Duckling's data.
VND converted at Vietcombank's selling rate on 15/10/2026; indicative only — the real amount depends on the rate when you pay.
Scholarships and aid for international students
- Is merit considered automatically with the application?UnclearSAIC says all students are automatically considered for merit, but it does not explicitly extend that automatic rule to international students.
- Is admission need-blind for international applicants?UnclearThe provided pages do not state whether SAIC is need-blind in admission for international students.
- Is the CSS Profile or a school aid form required?UnclearThe provided pages do not state that international students must submit the CSS Profile or a separate international aid form.
Scholarships at this school
- SAIC Merit ScholarshipsIntl eligibility unclearThe school does not say whether international students can get this scholarship, so “Cost for a year” at the top does not subtract it. Ask the school before counting on it.MeritMeritAwarded on achievement (grades, awards, activities), regardless of family finances.Considered automatically with the admission applicationSchool page
Admission requirements
Compared with 349 United States schools that publish an application fee in Duckling's data.
English
Application requirements
- High-school transcriptiTranscripts not in English must include official translations.Required
- PortfolioiA portfolio of 10–15 recent works is required.Required
- EssaysiA personal essay of up to 650 words is required.Required
- Proof of fundsiA bank statement showing one year of funding is needed for the I-20.Required
- Teacher recommendationRequired
- Supplementary applicationiThe portfolio is required; the general guidance is to submit 10–15 of your best and most recent works.Required
- English proficiencyiInternational applicants who do not qualify for an exemption must submit an accepted English-language assessment.Required
How to apply
Minimum English scores vs other schools
Compared with 534 United States schools admitting 70%+ that publish it in Duckling's data.
Deadlines
- Spring Priority Merit Scholarship deadlineScholarshipabout17days
- Early Action & Priority Merit Scholarship deadline (fall) (EA)Application+31 days
- Early Action & Priority Merit Scholarship deadline (Fall admission, non-binding) (EA)Scholarship+31 days
- Final Application Deadline (Spring admission)Application+78 days
- Final Merit Scholarship deadline (Fall admission)Scholarship+92 days
- Deadline for receipt of final high school transcripts for springDocuments+92 days
- Final Application Deadline (Fall admission)Application+182 days
Credit for exams
Each AP exam scored 3-5 earns 3 college credits, within a combined cap of 15 pre-college credits across all sources.
Scores that count12345IB Higher Level scores of 4–7 earn 6 credits; the combined cap is 15 credits.
Scores that count1234567
AP credit by subject
Lowest score that earns credit or placement, as the college reported to College Board. This is not an admission requirement. One exam can have several rows: a higher score sometimes earns more credit. Policy page the college gave College Board
34 courses. Scroll inside the table to see all.
Programs
Outcomes
Staying in United States after graduation
OPT: 12 months of work in your field after each degree level; degrees on the DHS STEM list can extend by 24 months (up to 36 months in total). Unemployment during OPT is capped at 90 days (150 days with the STEM extension). Note: on 8 October 2026 DHS published a PROPOSED rule charging USD 70,000 for initial OPT and USD 30,000 for later OPT; it is not in force, and comments close on 9 November 2026.
Climate
School & campus
Where the school is
Detailed map
Academics & housing
Why this school is listed: accepts applications through the Common App.
Updated 11/10/2026How Duckling sources data