• About the
  College
  • History
  • Fast Facts
  • Accreditation
  • College Exhibitions
• Prospective
  Students
  • Apply
  • Costs and Financial Aid
  • Student Life
  • Career Opportunities
  • Visit
  • Request More Information
  • Student Work
• Undergraduate
  Degrees
  • BFA Fine Art
  • BFA Fine Art Photography
  • BFA Photojournalism
  • BFA Graphic Design
  • BFA Digital Media Design
  • BFA Interior Design
  • BA Art Studies
  • BFA/MAT 5 year Degree
  • Associate of Fine Arts
  • Freshman Foundation
  • Request More Information
• Graduate
  Degrees
  • MA Art and the Book
  • MA Interior Design
  • MA Exhibition Design
  • MA History of Decorative Arts
  • Degrees in Art Education
  • Request More Information
• Current
  Students
• Continuing
  Education
• Alumni

Scholarships

Rewarding Excellence

The Corcoran College of Art + Design’s merit scholarship program is committed to recognizing past academic and artistic achievements as well as promise for future success. Students are automatically considered for merit aid on a rolling basis upon their acceptance to the Corcoran, and no additional application forms are required.

In 2009–2010, new students will receive more than one million dollars in merit recognition for their first year of studies at the Corcoran. Awards range from $2,500 to $12,000 per year. Scholarships are multi-year commitments, enabling total amounts to equal up to $48,000 over four years of study. Award amounts are determined by a careful review of each student’s academic and artistic application materials. These include all official transcripts, test scores, and art, design and/or photography portfolios.  Depending on the time of year, new students are notified of their merit scholarship by letter shortly after their acceptance or at the time of their acceptance.

The following scholarships are available to students from their freshman year.

Dean’s Scholarship — Awarded to outstanding applicants to the BFA and BA programs who demonstrate strong artistic accomplishment and show promise in the visual arts. The committee considers a student’s academic record and portfolio of work.

Academic Achievement Award — To be eligible for consideration for this award, high school seniors must hold at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.

President’s Award — Open to both eligible transfer students and first time freshman, this multi-year, merit-based award is based on artistic talent, ability demonstrated in the portfolio at the time of admissions, academic record, and test scores on file. Selected recipients must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) as well as continuous full-time enrollment at the Corcoran to retain their award.

Arthur J. Ellis Scholarship — This scholarship created by the Ellis Endowment to honor the memory of the late Arthur J. Ellis, pioneering Washington Post photographer, is available to eligible first-time freshmen majoring in photojournalism. Selection is based on academic record and portfolio excellence.

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards — Eligible students must also be selected by the National Scholastic Jury. For more information about these scholarships, visit www.artandwriting.org.

NEA John Renna Art Scholarship — John Anthony Renna bequeathed his estate to the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA) in support of scholarships for art students of limited financial resources. With funds awarded to the Corcoran, the college bestows half and full tuition scholarships to selected full-time students. Students are chosen based on their academic and artistic accomplishment as demonstrated through their application and on their financial need as revealed through the FAFSA application results. Contact Corcoran’s Office of Admission for an application and more information.

Endowed Scholarships — The Corcoran offers a number of endowed scholarships funded by generous donors. Each scholarship has specific requirements for consideration. For example, some are targeted for returning students, others are for students in specific majors and still others are based on financial need. These scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. For information about specific awards, contact the Office of Financial Aid.

Faculty Chairs Grants — A highly selective scholarship awarded to a limited number of students, the Faculty Chairs’ Grant can range up to the possibility of full-time tuition for four years. Awards are divided over four years of enrollment. To retain the award annually, recipients must maintain a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and be enrolled full-time at the Corcoran.

Finalists are selected based on holding a minimum high school GPA of 3.50 and submitting an exceptional digital or slide artwork portfolio. Finalists not selected for this award will be considered for either the President’s Award or the Academic Achievement Award, which are both four-year awards.