Financial Aid for Art School
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With studio and supply fees on top of tuition, pursuing a creative degree requires a significant investment. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the average cost of an undergraduate degree was $26,382 from a public university and $44,662 from a private university during the 2018-19 school year.
Prospective students can explore financial aid for art school to help cover educational costs. In 2016, 72.2% of students received some form of financial aid, according to the NCES.
Keep reading to learn more about financial aid for art school, including scholarships for art majors and art school grants.
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Financial Aid
Prospective art students should research scholarships for art majors, and they should also apply for standard aid packages. By submitting the FAFSA, learners can apply for multiple scholarships in one place.
The application requires tax information and takes about 45 minutes to complete. Students who file their taxes under a dependent status must submit their guardian’s tax information. Using this data, the government identifies applicants’ eligibility for loans, grants, and federally supported work-study positions.
Students who qualify for a Federal Pell Grant do not need to repay it. However, loans require repayment. Individuals who qualify for loans through the FAFSA can receive subsidized or unsubsidized loans. Subsidized loans do not begin accruing interest until after the recipient graduates.
Scholarships
While loans can certainly supplement tuition and make earning an art degree attainable, they can lead to high student loan payments after graduation. However, art student scholarships do not require repayment, and they can help degree-seekers avoid high interest rates and out-of-pocket expenses.
Most scholarships require an application essay, official transcripts, and recommendation letters. While applicants can often submit one general recommendation letter to multiple scholarship committees, most scholarships feature varying essay prompts. Students should allow ample time before a scholarship deadline to request recommendation letters and transcripts. They should also allow enough time to write a compelling essay.
Scholarships are often competitive. Keep in mind that the more requirements, the more limited the applicant pool. Students can focus their scholarship search on awards reserved specifically for art students. See below for scholarships for creative students that feature specific requirements, including funds reserved for undergraduate, graduate, or female students.
Other Art Grants and Fellowships
Aside from scholarships, individuals can also apply for art grants and fellowships from nonprofits, foundations, and private companies. Prospective students can often discover grants and fellowship providers by researching online. Professional networking organizations may reserve funds for art student members. Art department faculty members and academic advisors may also know about additional grants and fellowships.
The Art Institutes, a system of more than 50 art schools in America, provide grants and scholarships through the form of competitions. The Academy of Art University also offers the Teacher Grant, which provides financial assistance to high school art teachers returning to college for additional art education.
Prospective learners should note that an art grant differs from a fellowship. Typically, a fellowship requires a service commitment, similar to an internship. A grant usually assists students in meeting financial needs for tuition or a research project. The Beckmann Emerging Artist Fellowship and the Kresge Artist Fellowship are two examples of fellowships for artists.
Grants and fellowships often feature specific requirements, so applying for multiple opportunities can increase your chances of earning this form of aid. Keep in mind that most students can only accept one fellowship per academic year because fellowships require a time commitment.
Art School Degree Paths
Other Resources
Through scholarships, loans, grants, and free resources, students can earn a degree on a budget. For more guidance on financial aid, browse these resources.
