BEST FINE ARTS PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY
94% OF GRADUATES WERE EMPLOYED OR IN GRADUATE SCHOOL WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF GRADUATION #2
ART AND DESIGN PROGRAM IN THE WORLD
ARTS-RELATED OCCUPATIONS
ARTS CAREERS THE BIG PICTURE
88% are satisfied with their current work
80% said their first job out of college was related to their arts major 78% have been self-employed during their career 16% started their own business
Strategic National Arts Alumni Project survey data
30,000,000
THE UNITED NATIONS REPORTS THAT 30 MILLION PEOPLE ARE WORKING IN CULTURAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES WORLDWIDE, CONSTITUTING 3% OF TOTAL GLOBAL GDP.
In the US, arts and cultural industries employ 5.2 million workers, with statistics projecting steady job growth in arts and design fields through 2033, with 87,900 annual openings due to new positions and workforce turnover.
—Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023
The arts and cultural sectors have a significant impact on the US economy, contributing over $1.1 trillion annually, and accounting for 4.3% of the gross domestic product (GDP).
—US Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Endowment for the Arts, 2022
“A college degree in the arts is the most significant indicator of creativity in a prospective job candidate.”
—America for the Arts
CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION are among the top five skills that employers indicate will increase in value within the next five years. –Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, Creative Minds|Transforming Society Study
72% OF BUSINESS LEADERS SAY THAT CREATIVITY IS THE NUMBER ONE SKILL THEY ARE SEEKING WHEN HIRING.
Arts graduates report that they acquired many skills in art school that are also important to their subsequent work life whether in or out of the arts.
» The ability to improve work based on feedback from others
» Creative thinking and problem solving
» Artistic technique
» Broad knowledge and education
» Critical thinking and analysis
» Interpersonal relations and working collaboratively
–Making it Work: The Education and Employment of Recent Arts Graduates (Tepper, et al.)
MOST INFLUENTIAL ART SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES
FALL 2025
Undergraduate: 2,737
Graduate: 586 TOTAL ENROLLMENT: 3,323
TOP 10 ART AND DESIGN PROGRAM IN THE WORLD COUNTRIES REPRESENTED INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS 80 25%
#2 BEST FINE ARTS PROGRAM
#2 PAINTING/DRAWING PROGRAM
#3 PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM
#4 SCULPTURE PROGRAM
#5 TIME-BASED MEDIA/NEW MEDIA PROGRAM
SAIC IS THE INTERDISCIPLINARY ART AND DESIGN SCHOOL
US arts schools are generally organized around channeling students into specialized disciplines. Yet, evidence suggests that successful careers in the arts will likely involve a broadening of skills and roles and a willingness and capacity to work across disciplines.
TOP PRODUCER OF STUDENTS RECEIVING FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIPS AFTER GRADUATION
94% of graduates were employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
SAIC Alumni Fast Facts
Nearly HALF of all alumni participated in an internship during their time at SAIC.
96% of alumni believe SAIC helped them develop creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
94% of SAIC alumni had serious conversations with students who were different from them in terms of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, political opinions, or personal values.
89% of alumni were satisfied with the opportunities to work in different artistic disciplines.
90% of SAIC alumni rate their overall experience of SAIC as good or excellent.
# 1 school where alumni were satisfied with their freedom and encouragement to take risks.
The Art Institute of Chicago was named one of Tripadvisor’s “Best of the Best” US attractions of 2025.
Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s major museums, housing an extraordinary collection of objects from across places, cultures, and time.
The museum’s permanent collection spans 5,000 years and includes approximately 300,000 works of art.
OUR MUSEUM
OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS
36 South Wabash Avenue, suite 1201
Chicago, IL 60603
Cover: Daniel Wode (BFA 2020), punch and untitled