BFA & MFA in Photography Programs SAIC

Photography Department

The Department of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) offers a multifaceted approach to the medium, including traditional forms of image making and conceptually oriented practices, making the SAIC Photography program uniquely diverse.

An image of some students critiquing a photography exhibition.

Graduate Programs Priority Application Deadline: December 1

SAIC's Graduate Programs offer a priority deadline and reduced application fee before December 1.

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Undergraduate Early Action & Priority Merit Scholarship Deadline: December 1

Submit your application and portfolio by December 1 to be considered for fall 2025 admission and priority merit scholarship.

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File Your FAFSA

In order to be eligible for need-based aid such as SAIC, state and federal grants, loans and work study you need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov.

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An image from the 2017 Photography Graduate Critique.

Student Work

Students in the Photography department will:

Explore the practice and theory of photography.
Learn from distinguished, practicing artists with a variety of approaches to the medium.
Practice your art in a supportive, nonhierarchical community among faculty, undergraduate, and graduate students.
Work with state-of-the-art equipment available for checkout from our media centers, and enjoy access to all the resources of the school.
Collaborate with graduate students and peers to create an annual departmental catalog.

A student checks out a medium format camera

#3 Best Photography Program

U.S. News & World Report
Best Fine Arts Grad School Rankings

A student at a lecture speaks into a microphone

Parlor Room

Parlor Room is a visiting artist program and lecture series created, run, budgeted and curated by graduate students of photography. Parlor Room provokes dialogue and connections with artists, curators, thinkers and critics engaged with photography. Through public presentations, one-on-one studio visits, and informal group events with graduate students and faculty, Parlor Room seeks a diversity of thought and practice.