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.
This scholarship is open to U.S. students who plan to enroll at Missouri State University as freshmen. Students must have a class rank in the top 50 percent or a grade point average of 3.0 or higher AND an ACT score of 20 or higher or an SAT score of 1030 or higher. Students must also excel in three of the following areas: leadership; volunteerism; performing arts; athletics.
This scholarship, provided in honor of Virginia E. Christakos, is available to undergraduate students at Florida State College of Jacksonville who are enrolled in a visual or performing arts program.
The Pelican Players Scholarship Fund is available for Hillsborough County, Florida high school seniors who have a grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Applicants must be planning to major in performing arts. Additional preference is given to students at East Bay, Lennard, Newsome and Riverview High Schools.
This scholarship is available for college freshman and sophomore students at FSCJ who are enrolled in the theater and entertainment technology program. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
This scholarship is available for Jewish graduate students who immigrated to the United States through the assistance of HIAS Chicago and/or applied for permanent residency or citizenship with the assistance of HIAS Chicago between Jan. 1, 2000- present. The student must be enrolled in professional study in one of the helping professions.
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois provides educational resources to students pursuing a degree in the visual arts. Applicants must reside in boone, ogle, or Winnebago counties, and pursuing a degree in visual arts, or visual art education with a GPA of 2.75 or higher, and a graduating high school senior.
The John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Scholarship Fund awards scholarships ranging from $500 to $5,000 per recipient. Funds support the education of students between the ages of 18 and 35 who aim to make art in the classical or conservative traditions their profession.
The Reno Rodeo Foundation Scholarship is available for Applicants whot have graduated from a Northern Nevada high school with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.
Note: the following counties shall not be considered Northern Nevada: Clark, Lincoln and Esmeralda
This award is available for high school seniors in Monroe, Ohio who plan to major in music or performing arts at an accredited college or university in the U.S. Applicants must have a grade point average of 2.0 or higher.
