37 South Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60603

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the most recognized names in art and design schools in the country. Founded shortly after the end of the Civil War in 1866, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In 1872, the collections division of the school was established and the school remains the largest museum-school partnerships in the United States.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago moved to its current location on Michigan and Wabash Avenues in the heart of Chicago at the end of the nineteenth century. By the end of the twentieth century, the school had evolved from a primarily focused fine art and architecture school to a trans-disciplinary focus of liberal arts and design.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is currently divided into more than 15 departments and the school offers bachelor's degrees in the following areas: visual and critical studies, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in writing, Bachelor of Fine Arts with an emphasis in art history, theory and criticism, BFA with an emphasis in art education, bachelor of interior architecture and a consecutive degree for BFA and BA in visual and critical studies. Additionally, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago was ranked the top fine art graduate program by U.S. News and World Report. The graduate school offers 15 graduate degree programs and three post-graduate certificate programs.

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago Students enrolls more than 2,900 students per year. Students may choose to live on campus and more than 80 percent of first year students choose to live in one of the residence dorms. The dorms are designed to feel like downtown studio lofts and one reason many students like living on campus is the feeling of living in a community of artists.

Quick Facts:

More than 60 percent of students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago are women.

Among the notable alumni of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago: Georgia O'Keefe, Ivan Albright, Thomas Hart Benton, Sang-soo Hong, Vincente Minnelli and Cynthia Rowley.

There are currently more than 150 full-time faculty members at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and approximately 400 part-time faculty. Many faculty members work in the arts.

There are many academic, political, social and professional groups and organizations on the campus of School of the Art Institute of Chicago from which to choose.

This school profile has been compiled and updated by The CollegeBound Network. The school is not affiliated with The CollegeBound Network and shall not be considered a sponsor of this program.