SAIC is “conceptual” and process-focused, but the job placement rate was pretty good when we looked at it a few years ago. Also, the more open curriculum is a great option for those who need it, but many also opt for a pretty standard applied curriculum in their field of interest. Your advisor should be able to help you there.
My D just graduated from another art school but will be starting a full-time job in Chicago, where I imagine a lot of SAIC jobs are located. During her job search, she was never asked about her transcript, and she didn’t bother putting her GPA on her resume. All everyone seemed to care about was her portfolio and work experience. So receiving quality (letter) grades may not be so important on the job market, although I supposed at some point she might have to provide proof of degree or something. For grad school, letter grades DO tend to be important, and I understand in that case SAIC is able to produce a quality-grade transcript if needed.