Painting a Better Financial Picture

Scholarships for Art Students

Art Scholarships are as diverse as the artists who utilize them for higher education. Creating unique works requires training, and like other disciplines, art school tuition calls for a bankroll that is not always at hand.  And art itself takes many forms, so there is no cookie-cutter approach to funding art education.

Grants and loans serve students at all levels of study, and targeted creative awards address art students’ needs specifically. Financial aid success requires flexibility, and a top down approach that uses all available resources. General aid, from the Federal Government, provides art school funding.  Pell Grants and Federal Direct Loans are go-to resources for art students.

Scholarships for art students are funded by diverse educational benefactors, including government agencies and individual colleges and universities. Endowments from art-centric philanthropists provide educational financing for promising artists.  Fine arts scholarships also originate in the corporate sector, from private entities committed to art education.

The body of art students captures a diverse talent pool; from specialists who master certain mediums, to art educators who study at the master’s degree level.  Wherever your artistic passions lead, there is financial assistance available to help you succeed.

The National YoungArts Foundation provides over $500,000 worth of annual talent-based financial aid to high school & college students focused on performing, visual & literary arts.

Art Department Scholarships

Indiana State University

1.) Criteria – Successful applicants meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Major in Art at Indiana State University
• Devoted, committed and artistically talented
• Enrolled as an undergraduate art student
• Emerge from high school in the top 25% of graduating class
• Maintain GPA standards of at least 3.0

2.) How much is awarded to each scholarship winner?

• $2000.00

3.) Number of Annual Awards

• Ten

4.) Renewable?

• Yes, for up to eight semesters – provided eligibility criteria are maintained.

Read more about it here.

Illinois State University School of Art

Elizabeth Stein Scholarship

1.) Who is eligible?

• Those enrolled in Illinois State University Fine Arts programs.

2.) Criteria

• Portfolio exhibiting completed works
• Artistic ability, as demonstrated by portfolio submissions
• Financial need paying for college
• Must have a good GPA in other academic areas, outside art courses

3.) How much is awarded?

• Each scholarship is valued at up to $500
• In addition, winners are added to the scholarship recipient plaque on campus

Mary M. Packwood Scholarship

1.) Criteria – Packwood application requirements:

• Complete at least 90 semester hours before applying
• Be enrolled in a School of Arts degree program
• Undergraduate or graduate students are invited to apply
• Strong studio portfolio
• Strong field portfolio
• Good written and oral communication skills
• High academic achievement in areas outside art studies
• Three letters of recommendation are submitted with applications

2.) How much is awarded?

• Up to $300 is awarded, to be used for tuition and fees.

Mary R. Walker Scholarship

Walker scholarships provide college funding for creative students majoring in fabric, sculpture, or metals.  The specialized awards are valued at $400 each, and go to the most qualified portfolio submissions.

Stephanie Amster Design Scholarship

Art student majoring in Photography, Visual Communications, or Three-Dimensional Design are invited to apply for annual Amster awards.

Sisters and Friends African American Student Artist Scholarship

African American artists benefit from scholarships designed to elevate women of color within the art education community.  Winners earn up to $500 each toward tuition and fees..

For expanded information about any of the the scholarships listed above, visit Illinois State University’s School of Art scholarship page.

University of Arizona School of Art

Campus scholarships for art students benefit applicants majoring in:

• Art Education
• Studio Art
• Art History

1.) How much does the School of Art award per year?

• Scholarships and tuition waivers vary in amounts, but aid is available for undergraduates and graduate students.

2.) Eligibility -

• Enrolled at The University of Arizona
• Meet general financial aid eligibility requirements
• Undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree.

3.) Criteria – Successful applicants

• Maintain a 3.0 GPA
• Submit examples of high quality art work

Visit the University of Arizona scholarship resources page for current information about campus financial aid programs for art students.

Ball State University

Fine Art Freshman Scholarships

These scholarships are renewable for up to four years.

1.) How much is awarded?

• $1,000.00 each year

2.) Criteria – Successful applicants maintain:

• At least a 3.0 GPA
• Good academic record
• An outstanding art portfolio

One-Year Outstanding Freshman Scholarships

The Presidential Scholarship in the Arts is a valuable award for art students at Ball State.

1.) How much is awarded?

• Up to $ 4,500.00 is awarded annually, for four years of college.

For more information about these scholarships, visit Ball State’s art scholarship page.

The University of Texas at San Antonio

The Charles and Jermaine Field Endowed Painting Scholarship

Graduate and undergraduate students are invited to apply for this award.

1. Criteria For Graduates -

• Be enrolled full time
• Be pursuing a degree in painting
• Produce outstanding art work
• Acquire three letters of recommendation, preferably from art professors

2.) Criteria For Undergraduates

• Have at least 60 semester hours completed
• Be enrolled full time
• Be pursuing a degree in painting
• Acquire three letters of recommendation, preferably from art professors
• Submit outstanding, original art work

3.) How much is awarded?

• Amounts vary

Sue Jockusch Endowed Scholarship

1.) Criteria -

• Enrolled full time at The University of Texas at San Antonio
• An Art or Art History major

2.) How much is awarded?

• Amounts vary

Peggy and Richard Calvert Endowed Scholarship

Criteria -

• Graduate student at The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Enrolled full time
• Outstanding art portfolio
• Three letters of recommendation from faculty
• Visual arts aptitude

Visit the University of Texas at San Antonio for more details.

U.W. – Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts

UWM puts forth a fine arts scholarship package worth more than $50,000 annually.  Graduate and undergraduate students qualify for Fine Arts Scholarships in all creative disciplines.  The portfolio review process evaluates incoming freshman who compete for Arts and Design awards.  During subsequent years of enrollment, scholarship candidates are reviewed by way of the First Year Program, Junior Competition and Senior Competition.  Graduate level students qualify for Chancellor’s Awards and other forms of fellowship support.

For the most current information about Art and Design Scholarships at UWM, consult the Peck School of the Arts scholarship resources page.