Maine College of Art

I originally wasn't planning on going to art school because I thought that all art colleges were snobby, incredibly difficult, and only focused on making art marketable rather than developing personal style. However, Maine College of Art & Design is everything I could ever hope for in an art school. It's small-scale, local, INCREDIBLY friendly, and feels like it will help me find my personal voice as an artist and encourage me to explore my style rather than give into soulless corporate minimalism. I'm incredibly honored to have been accepted to MECA&D, and I can't imagine being truly happy anywhere else.

What makes me want to attend Maine College of Art is honestly the vibe—it just *feels* right. There’s this strong sense of community that you don’t find everywhere, and that really stands out to me. It doesn’t feel like just a school; it feels like a place where people actually know each other, support each other, and grow together. I love the idea of being surrounded by creative people who are passionate, open-minded, and welcoming—it gives off this family energy that’s rare and super important to me. The location is also a huge draw. Portland is inspiring without being overwhelming. It’s the kind of place where you can focus, breathe, and still be connected to art and culture in a meaningful way. And the resources? Top-notch. Whether it's studio space, mentorship, or just being around other artists who are pushing themselves, everything about MECA&D seems designed to help students feel seen and supported. That sense of belonging is what really makes it stand out to me.

Maine College of Art is the perfect school for me because it’s smaller. It only has 500 students that attend. I also like the location because Portland Maine is very forward city and the artist there are really embraced by the city.

From the moment I visited Maine College of Art, I immediately knew this was where I wanted to go. I love it so much, that I very rarely go home unless I have to for school breaks. MECA is a very small school, so there's lots of 1:1 attention. The school is also just one building which makes it very easy to learn your way around the school. Dorms are very close and it only takes a few minutes to walk to classes. Teachers are always available to help students when needed and there's a strong feeling of belonging to a community at the school. Classes are extremely informative and I feel like I've really improved as an artist.

I think The Maine College of Arts is a great school because it offers a diverse range of creative programs such as animation and ame art, ceramics , fashion and textile designs , illustration , photography, printing, printmaking just to name a couple. I also believe that they have a a strong focus on nurturing artistic talent. The faculty are experienced and supportive, and the facilities are top notch, providing students with every they need to succeed on there artistic endeavors.

I knew where I wanted to go as soon as I visited it during my sophomore year of high school. The classes are on the small side, challenging and engaging and the teachers are amazing. They really want you to be happy and doing your best work. The students are so creative, supportive and driven, I have definitely made life long friends here. I always knew I was going to do art in my life, there's no getting around that, but this school gave me the skills, tools, knowledge, support system and social network to not only be a better artist, but to also to make a living from doing art. As I am going into my senior year, I have a better idea on how to make the best work I am capable, how to talk about my work in a educated way and to sell my work.

I really love MECA! The only reason why I gave it four out of five instead of the perfect rating is because a.) I think it's kind of an acquired taste (it's a very small close community, so if you're looking for a larger college experience then this wouldn't be for you) and b.) I think there are some areas they could improve on (some of the facilities and housing are a little worse for wear). However, all this being said I think MECA is a really great school for connecting with fellow artists (in both your peers and professors) and learning about your craft in a really great, artsy community.

I like that Meca is a small and accessible school for artists, while still maintaining a professional environment that provides an outstanding education and career opportunities. The classes are thorough and provoke critical thinking in all shapes and forms.

MECA is the perfect fit for someone interested in any number of arts majors, but who is apprehensive about very large campuses. The community is very tight knit because of the class size (only about 500 students total), and its size also allows for consistent individual attention in classes. The location is in the center of a wonderful small city, perfect for someone like myself who doesn't really enjoy city life as much (Portland is a very laid back, small city). MECA is also the only art school to offer a music minor.

I got my first taste of Maine College of Art as a high school junior. I spent the summer at MECA to participate in their precollege program, and I immediately knew it was the college for me. I feel completely at home there, and the city of Portland is absolutely beautiful. The school is in a great spot, everything is within walking distance, and they offer decent housing and meals. As a freshman, I noticed some of the students didn't seem so serious about their education, perhaps thinking that since it's an art school, they wouldn't have to try very hard, but I'm hoping that once I choose a major I'll be surrounded by people who are serious about art.

It is very known to local artists and you are pretty much paying for their name on your resume, however the tuition is hard to manage and there is no parking for students who commute like myself, so that is always an extra costs. For something I really was excited to be a part of has really dampened my mood.

The Maine College of Art is unlike any school I have visited and, as an accepted student, I am more than excited about attending in the fall. The school is small with less than a thousand students which means intimate class sizes and plenty of face time with staff. Each student as an upperclassman is guaranteed a her own dedicated studio space and these spaces are available twenty-four hours a day.

Maine College of Art is a very small school but fret not, for the minuscule class rosters help to engage students and professors in more in-depth critiques and 1 on 1 assistance from professors. Within this liberal swarm of mostly caucasians, you will find that heaps of students are primarily focused is on LGBTQ+ rights. While I, myself, am not white, I have yet to ever feel excluded or out of place. Of course, explorations of other political, historical, purely technique and personal topics are greatly encouraged. I have found that the Portland location is a great central hub to engage in both local and global environmental issues as Maine's main Audubon center is only a 10 minute public transit ride away. The school has 24/7 access which means that you can use studios at any time of day to finish or continue work. Never have I ever felt unsafe within any of the MECA buildings (And I have been working in the studio at 4 AM before) or within the city of Portland itself.

MECA is a wonderful environment that encourages art students to explore their talents and other abilities. It is a very small school right in the heart of Portland. There is so much to do around the city and the studio's in the school are 24/7 so you are always allowed to create art.