Art scholarships are for creative high school and college students who may qualify. Many accredited colleges and art schools offer art scholarships to students who’ve spent time cultivating their artistic talent. Some look at unmet financial need. Others require letters of recommendation, GPA, test scores and extracurricular activities. If you plan to enroll as a full time student and are a United States citizen or permanent resident, you may qualify.
You should first find scholarships for art at your current school. Your guidance counselor, and faculty in the art department may have scholarship information. Also, local publications may advertise creative art scholarships. Some awards may require your art portfolio or samples. Make sure you showcase a quality piece of art work and shows your passion for art.
10 Art Scholarships for Creative College Students in 2024
There are a wide range of college scholarship opportunities in art and design. To get you started, we curated a list of 10 scholarships for artists for you to check out. If you meet the eligibility rules, apply soon!
Design Circle Scholarship
Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition Scholarship
Stanfield and D’Orlando Art Scholarship
John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Fund for Art Education
Lake Design Foundation Scholarship
Houzz Residential Design Scholarship
Black Design Leaders Grant
Phil Layton Award of Excellence in the Arts
Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship
Stop Painting.com Essay Scholarship
What Scholarships for Art Students Should You Apply for?
Art scholarships for college students often accept applications from a range of artistic majors. There are also awards for those majoring in visual arts, fine arts, graphic design, interior design, printmaking or performing arts. Apply to the ones you may qualify for to improve your odds.
For instance, if you draw/sketch or paint, apply for any drawing scholarship you may find. You may have to stick to a genre but you could show off your drawing skills.
There are also scholarships for artists tied to ethnicity, gender and race. Are you an artistic African American art student? The CBCF Spouses USA Performing Arts Scholarship may be one for you. Ten qualifying college students each get $3,000. Eligible applicants must have a 2.5 GPA and be a performing arts major.
Both undergraduate students and graduate students may qualify for the Henry and Chiyo Kuwahara Creative Arts Award. It is from the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL). To apply, you need samples of artistic works. These should show the Japanese American culture.
As a prospective art major, you should also submit a FAFSA to apply for standard financial aid packages. By submitting the FAFSA, you are able to apply for several scholarships for art from two year and four year colleges all at once.
Check on your college or art school’s website to see what they offer and if there is a separate form to fill out. Many colleges target high school seniors who enter as first time freshman and are renewable if you keep up the terms. Another option are easy scholarships and video or essay contests. You may find ones for creative writing, photography, mass communication, studio art and design.
Is Going to Art School Worth it?
Art school could be worth it at an accredited art program. You may gain more in depth knowledge and discipline from your art major. You may also develop networking opportunities with other artists and professors. There could also be valuable internships and potential career paths. More importantly, art students may learn to build a strong work ethic and dedication to your passion for art.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, many careers in arts and design require a bachelor’s degree (or BFA) for entry level roles. Graphic designers, multimedia artists, art directors, educators and some related fields require four year degree.
Also, the cost of a public four year college is on the rise. According to the NCES, the average total cost of attendance was at $24,900 in 2018 to 2019. Private for profit colleges average total cost of attendance was $33,200.
Because an art scholarship is not a loan, it works to make your studies more affordable. Once you graduate, you may have the knowledge and refined skills to go after your dream job. Also, the median annual wage for arts and design occupations was $51,150 in 2022. Salaries in creative fields usually vary.
The DISTCO Digital Storytelling Contest is available to U.S. and international students currently enrolled in high school and planning to attend North American College in Houston, TX.
U.S. Muslim students who are college juniors or graduate students majoring in humanities, social sciences, liberal arts, or law are eligible for this award. Students must have a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and be affiliated with the Islamic Institute of Orange County (IIOC).
U.S. students who are enrolled in a community college film, television, cinema, or theater program and have completed at least 12 credits in their program are eligible for this award. Students must reside and attend school in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, or Ventura counties.
The Zoe Zuniga-Prince Memorial Scholarship is available for graduating high school seniors at Westlake High School in Travis County, Texas. Applicants must be active in the art departments and demonstrate a combination of passion, talent, and commitment to the arts.
The ESP Rock Guitar Scholarship (sponsored by ESP Guitars) was created to directly encourage and support the educational growth of Rock guitar students at Musicians Institute at the AA or B.M. level. The scholarship will be awarded in Spring 2022 to an intermediate or advanced student (U.S. or non-U.S. citizens) enrolling in the Associate of Arts or Bachelor of Music in Performance (Guitar) program who demonstrates overall outstanding musicianship, passion for the instrument and the potential for developing their own individual sound or unique voice on the instrument in the Rock genre.
This award is for U.S. college sophomores, juniors and seniors who have taken courses in photography or photojournalism. The student must be enrolled in a minimum of six credit hours per semester and must have at least one year of school remaining at the time the award is disbursed.
The Saatchi Scholarship Program was designed to provide financial assistance to creative, strategy, and data analytic students from diverse backgrounds. Scholarship recipients will be selected by a panel of Creatives, Strategic Managers, Data Analysts, and Talent Managers at Saatchi & Saatchi and beyond. We want to hear from aspiring change-makers who are passionate about the industry.
We will award $10,000 to two deserving students, with $5,000 dispersed before the Fall 2023 semester and $5,000 in Spring 2024.
Mentorship
In addition to scholarship funds, you’ll be mentored by a Saatchi & Saatchi pro. This includes virtual meetups each month and access to your mentor via email and text for one year.
Two $8,000 scholarships ($2,000 each year for four consecutive years) are awarded to three new students accepted to Loyola and also named winners in Chicago’s Latino Art Beat competition by Mr. Don Rossi Nuncio, president. These scholarships are restricted to tuition.
This award is for a licensed radio amateur who is a resident of and attends college in Georgia or Alabama. The applicant must have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher; preference will be given to those studying electronics, communications, or related fields.
