SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO (SAIC) RISES IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

SAIC gains one position to #2, only one-tenth of one ranking point from #1

Four individual areas of concentration ranked in nation’s top three

Chicago, IL—New rankings compiled by U.S. News and World Reportreleased March 13 confirm that the fine arts graduate program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) continues to build upon its unparalleled history as one of the most influential programs in North America and internationally. SAIC rose to the nation’s second-ranked program in the Fine Arts category of the 2013 Best Graduate Schools list, just one-tenth of one ranking point below the top position.

Specialty rankings also released by U.S. News last week show that SAIC’s excellence in graduate studies spans an impressively wide array of artistic disciplines. In the nine individual areas of concentration ranked by U.S. News in the Fine Arts category, seven of SAIC’s graduate concentrations were ranked in the top 10. Four individual areas of SAIC graduate study—Visual Communication Design, Painting and Drawing, Photography, and Sculpture—were ranked in the nation’s top three.

“This ranking demonstrates the extremely high regard that individuals in visual arts communities across America hold for SAIC students, faculty, staff, and our more than 17,000 alumni,” says SAIC President Walter Massey. “I’m proud to be a part of SAIC with them, and offer my congratulations to everyone in our diverse, growing SAIC community.”

“The unparalleled talent, dedication, and vision of our faculty, who teach both graduate and undergraduate courses within our unique interdisciplinary curricula is on display here,” notes Lisa Wainwright, Dean of Faculty and Vice President of Academic Administration.

Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Elissa Tennysays, “This rise in the U.S. News and World Report rankings is a reflection of how SAIC continues to lead and create new pathways for art and design education. SAIC’s MFA program is dedicated to the exploration of ideas through the process of making, and encourages experimentation, play, and an avant-garde practice unlike any other curriculum in America. I applaud this recognition of our achievements and embrace the challenge to keep moving forward.”

U.S. News bases its “Best Graduate Schools: Best Fine Arts Schools” rankings on a peer assessment survey of art school deans and other top art school academics, two per school, at 220 Master of Fine Arts programs in art and design. Rankings were last published in 2008, when SAIC earned a #3 overall ranking.