Illustration by Emily Zhang

At the start of the semester, students at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago brace themselves for a big bill: there’s tuition, housing, food, technology fees, of course — but at an art school, there’s an added, more hidden cost: the cost of materials for each studio course.

If you’re in a painting class, you can expect to buy a set of oil paints, stretcher bars, canvas, gesso, and brushes, which could run you over $300. Paper, copper plates, linoleum, woodblocks, carving tools, and emulsion for a Printmedia class can easily top $300, too. The same goes for many other departments.

At SAIC, fees can vary wildly across classes, and there’s no central compendium of information for would-be students. Students have access to course evaluations by logging in to their student account and going to Student Reporting, where there are estimates of material costs per course. However, those vary from student to student, and don’t necessarily reflect what the professor expects you to spend.

Anne Harris, a professor in the Painting and Drawing department, estimated that her basic materials requirement for a multi-level painting class was around $350. “There is no upper limit required for PTDW faculty for the cost of supplies per class, but teachers are aware that art students are often financially stressed,” said Harris.

Sculpture department chair Lan Tuazon estimated a $150 to $200 cost on materials for entry level sculpture courses, adding that professors are thoughtful about lowering costs for students.

Many students say that their expectations for what costs should be haven’t matched reality.

Nora Hamilton (BFA 2027) said she spent upwards of $300 on painting supplies. “The painting department is significantly more expensive than it should be,” she said.

Bennet Hixson (BFA 2026) agreed, and said, “I don’t remember the exact price, but I do remember my soul dying while checking out at Blick.” Both said they continued to spend similar amounts in upper-level painting classes.

There are some course costs that the school will cover, as instructional supply budgets vary by department, but for the most part, students are on their own.

According to Stripe Gandara, associate dean of undergraduate studies, all decisions around what supplies must be purchased for class are at the discretion of the instructor.

“SAIC does not have a specific policy regarding the amount faculty can request students to spend on course materials. However, we do ask that faculty clearly outline their expectations in their syllabi, so students are aware of any anticipated costs upfront,” Gandara said.

Gandara added that Student Financial Services provides budget worksheets to help students figure out how much money they need for materials based on their program and level. The worksheets can be found on the SAIC website under Costs and Fees.

This is not only department-specific, but class-specific as well. There are hundreds of studio classes available at SAIC, and each one operates a little differently. Some departments have classes that cost less than others, regardless of materials required.

Ceramics department chair Salvador Jiménez-Flores said that while basic ceramic tools aren’t provided, clay, dry materials, and studio glazes are, crediting the team of student workers who help reclaim and recycle clay.

“Overall, students can complete their projects without spending a lot of money. We just ask that students are respectful of the materials and do not take advantage of the generosity provided,” Jiménez-Flores said.

Martin Trent (BFA 2026) said the Ceramics department provides almost all the materials they need in contrast to other departments they work in. “In ceramics, I think it is very fair,” they said.

Fiber and Material Studies department chair Christine Tarkowski said that the department provides an instructional supply budget to each faculty based on the number of students enrolled in each class. That budget is designed to help with class demonstrations and expendable materials.

Haven Overton (BFA 2026), who primarily takes Fiber and Material Studies classes said, “Hearing and experiencing how much other departments make you spend in their classes, I feel so lucky to be in a department that offers a sufficient amount of materials. It feels more like a community.”

Though departments may provide certain supplies, many students don’t feel the provisions are adequate based on what they spend. Some students emphasized a need for certain materials provided in their departments.

Hamilton recommended the provision of canvas-making supplies in the PTDW department. Hixson proposed the supply of personal protective equipment like gloves and masks to protect from oil paint fumes.

Others felt an overall lack in support across departments due to a deficiency in provided materials.

Zadie Shea (BFA 2027) suggested that entry-level classes provide more materials. “Print is intimidating when you are asked to buy five pieces of paper for $40 in your first class. And sculpture gives you essentially no materials for free which is understandable in advanced classes, but I think they could supply more for intro,” Shea said.

Mio Sow (BFAW 2027) suggested that SAIC provide more money for materials or have an application for students to fill out to receive funding for materials.

Many professors are lenient on materials or emphasize finding alternatives when there isn’t enough money for materials. Some departments even provide almost everything needed. On the other hand, instructional budgets only go so far, and many students in popular departments feel unsupported in their creative endeavors.

“There’s nothing worse than having a big project coming up and feeling like it’s not going to be ‘good’ because you don’t have the expensive materials people expect you to buy,” said Sow.