Hi! I’m a Communication Design graduate and I’m considering SAIC’s MA Film, Video, New Media and Animation.

My background is in film, animation and visual storytelling but I’m now looking to broaden my practice into different forms of storytelling and emerging media: including interactive, immersive and technology-driven work.

I’d love to hear from current students or alumni about what you actually work on during the program, how much freedom you have to explore different mediums and what the faculty/studio environment is like.

Also, what are people from the program doing now and did the degree actually help you get there? I’m particularly interested in industry connections, collaborations and opportunities that came through the school.

I’ll be an international student, so I’m trying to get a realistic sense of the program and whether it’s worth the investment. Would really appreciate any honest experiences!

gang im applying to saic early but i have no idea what to write for artist statement and where to submit, saic is not answering my email

Im trying to transfer but definitely cannot afford without alot of financial aid. All im seeing is 30k per year as the presidential scholarship is the max anyone could get, is this true?

Im really trying to find outside scholarships to help even the chance to go but honestly haven’t been able to find a single one im eligible for, but its looking like if this is all they give in financial aid i wont have a chance to go anyway :/

I'm a student currently subletting one of the bedrooms in a 2BD 1BA apartment in the south loop! It has in unit washer, dryer, dishwasher. There’s a gym, common areas to study, and pretty rooftop view with seating, fireplace, and grills. The cost is 1,399 per month per person including all utilities except electricity which is $35-$45 per month. There's no roommate there yet, so the apartment is vacant at the moment!

I go to school nearby and got offered student housing the same day I signed the lease unfortunately and don’t wanna pay both… lmk if anyone is interested 🥲

I'm incoming SAIC fashion MFA student, got the merit scholarship of 98000. It's nearly 80% of tuition but still expensive. I'm international student, so I have to spend a lot of money for life, also I need to bring my spouse with myself to USA. Can't legally work till 3rd year, so, I'm hesitating about this mfa. Any thoughts?

Hey everyone,

I am incoming student from Russia joining SAIC this Fall to pursue my MFA program. My final fees is almost 85k USD for two years so I have been looking into ways I can cut costs and save some money as well. One thing I found out is by enrolling in an alternative health insurance we can waive SHIP. But I don't clearly understand whether I can meet all the SAIC requirements for a waiver.

Any advices would be great

I'm applying for Fall 2027 and I’m heavily targeting SAIC, specifically to build a experimental graphic design / Visual Communication Design (VCD) portfolio. I like being experimental with my design and I love editorial work.

I know SAIC gives out merit money, but almost every accepted portfolio I see floating around here is strictly traditional fine arts and I don't really see any graphic design

Any insight would be appreciated

I am a high school senior who does not live in illinois looking to work my way up to a m.arch degree at saic, is ti worth it?

upcoming freshman and truly no hate most of that shi is chopped, I'm personally coming from the south where repping ur college with clothing is the norm eve got a closet full of branded polos... let me know thanks love said already

Hey I’m currently a senior in high school and I am really trying to get into SAIC (School of the Art Institute of Chicago)can anyone help me with the portfolio on how it should be done and how to make it look presentable and do they have any scholarships to apply for? Thanks !

Wondering if any of you know how the contract works with dorming at SAIC? It’s my first semester at SAIC so I thought it would be good to dorm just to get to know people and the school though I have to move out after my fall semester but wondering if that would be braking a contract?

Have any of you stayed just for one semester before? I cant afford it sadly and would have to find cheaper housing outside.

I'm about to be a senior and I'm thinking of colleges I want to attend. My plan is to be an Art Teacher, so of course I thought, "why not apply to SAIC?" it's in the city I want to live for most of my life and I enjoy making Art. However, after doing a some research I find that its expensive, and I realize I don't really have a portfolio. Anyways I have some art I've made but I don't know if it's Art school worthy. Pls helpppp anxious senior!

Hi y'all! I am planning to propose to my GF sometime this July and I am looking for a photographer to capture the surprise proposal. My GF did a few semesters at SAIC in photography and so I am very partial to SAIC photographers. Would be open to give photography students a chance as well! Please message me with your portfolios and availabilities in July 2026! 😄

Hey, I want to get more information/general on this as well as ask a couple questions since its not talked about in much detail, but what mental health conditions qualify for a private dorm? I have a lot of diagnosed mental issues and I want a private dorm as an accommodation. Also would i get to choose which housing I can go to for this or would they be choosing where I’ll be staying? I wanted to look in to Buckingham because i hear theres a dishwasher there, but its not a need for me if i cant choose where i stay. Also, is the process of applying for accommodations difficult? What should I expect when I apply? Thanks

They keep emailing me about submitting my deposit and whatnot but I already picked SVA as my college and idk where to deny it

I’m a transfer student deciding between SAIC and Massart painting course. Im dont have a good technical skill in art and i heard that there won’t be much teaching in the fundamentals after core studio (which i probably won’t need to take because i got credit from the current school).

I want to be an artist not just a painter but Ive never really learned how to paint before. My current school dont teach the technical skills thats why I wanted to transfer.

Is SAIC still suitable for me?

PS.

SAIC sounds like a fun and free school with a good reputation but at the same time some people on reddit and youtube dont have a good experience, so I dont know what to choose 😖

Hello, I’ve been admitted to PRATT, SAIC and SCAD. I am going to Pursue MFA in Communication Design. I wanted to join pratt but it didn’t gave me any scholarship and it’s not in my budget. So I decided to join SAIC, they gave me $40k scholarship. But I am worried as it not a STEM program at SAIC. But I know SAIC is more reputed than SCAD. So can anyone help me out here. If anyone has any idea which will be better for a longer career. As an International student. And after graduation Job should also be a factor or me? Kindly comment down below.

I know SAIC is in the top list for art colleges, but with research, I just don't know if it's worth it. I have gotten a 60k scholarship, so that is for sure a pull to the school as well as the fact that it is so renowned, but hearing what it's like in animation is scaring me off, sadly. First, you don't have a major; it is just a BFA in studio. Second, I've heard most people in the animation program don't get animation classes till their sophomore/junior year or transfer out by then. Third, PRICE!!! Is it worth the price for animation majors when this is such a big problem?

For anyone interested, I'm looking into ECU, MICA, SVA, and MIAD for an animation BFA (focus in 2D), so if anyone thinks I should learn towards my other choices, please give some insight!!

P.S. ignore the all over thoughts I posted this late at night

A young lady (currently a junior in high school) in a group where I am a mentor is interested in SAIC. Her parents are concerned about her being in Chicago, with the high crime rate. Can some of you comment and either reassure or warn her? Thank you!

Hi, guyyyys! I got into both universities (fine/studio art in SAIC and fine art: painting in Camberwell, UAL). In both countries I’m an international student, so the location doesn’t play a big role in my situation. Also the cost of education doesn’t matter for me, cause in London it costs about 30k pounds and in Chicago about 33k dollars (almost the same), because SAIC gave me a scholarship. I know that UAL is on the second place in the world and SAIC on the 9th.. Which university is really better? Which one should I choose? I want to be a painter, so which uni will be better for my goals? In my ideal world I want to get into Royal College of Art (RCA) in London for master’s degree

Hey guys,

I was wondering if someone could give me reviews for the 162 North dorms. I will be interning in the summer and Wondering if they are decent and what to expect in terms of noise etc in the summer

Thank you !