School of the Art Institute of Chicago Admission Requirements

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 79%.  Its admission rate is the 37th lowest in Illinois.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into School of the Art Institute of Chicago and can you get accepted?

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 4,797 out of the 6,075 who applied were admitted.

School of the Art Institute of Chicago typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.51. 14% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into School of the Art Institute of Chicago?

79% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to School of the Art Institute of Chicago you should:

• Have a high school GPA of 3.51 or better
• Earn B+ grades in high school
• Score 1150 on the SAT
• Score 23 on the ACT

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

What GPA do you need to get into School of the Art Institute of Chicago?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into School of the Art Institute of Chicago are to have around a 3.51 high school GPA. You are required to have very good grades in high school.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.51 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as School of the Art Institute of Chicago accepts 79% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 3.51 on the 4.0 scale. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #19 in Illinois for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.5 GPA range.

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required by School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The school has a test blind policy.

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to School of the Art Institute of Chicago?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 1150 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1048-1260. Students who get into School of the Art Institute of Chicago score in the top 100 percent of all SAT test takers..  School of the Art Institute of Chicago ranks #14 in the state of Illinois for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1150 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. School of the Art Institute of Chicago regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1048 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1048, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 950, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not considered for admission, even if submitted (test blind)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1150 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1154, you have around a 79% chance of being admitted. A 1260 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 88% chance of getting in.

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into School of the Art Institute of Chicago?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to School of the Art Institute of Chicago is 23, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 22 and 25.  The school ranks #20 in Illinois for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 23. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 22 and score in the score in the top 37 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 20.

33 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as School of the Art Institute of Chicago is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not considered for admission, even if submitted (test blind)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into School of the Art Institute of Chicago for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 23 score has around 79% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 90% with a 25 ACT score.

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2025 Application Deadline

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to School of the Art Institute of Chicago is $65.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to School of the Art Institute of Chicago and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted

Admission Requirements Summary

Because School of the Art Institute of Chicago is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.51 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1150 and ACT of 23 will almost guarantee your admission.