Early College Program Summer Institute

The Early College Program Summer Institute is a credit-bearing summer art and design program for high school students at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Students earn one college credit for each week and build two to three portfolio pieces in classes that meet Monday through Friday, with evening skill-building workshops. Fashion courses for 2027 include Fashion Design (June 14 to 25) and Fashion Construction (June 28 to July 9 or July 12 to 23), where students learn to design, construct, and sew their own garments, including pattern making. Each two-week fashion course is worth two college credits and costs $3,964 for tuition. Students can live in SAIC's downtown residence halls for an added cost, estimated at $675 a week for 2027. SAIC also runs an online summer institute.

Open to students ages 15 to 18 who have completed their sophomore year of high school by the start of the program. Registration for 2027 is open. Merit scholarship and need-based aid applications are due March 1, 2027, and payment is due May 1, 2027.