This snapshot is built from CollegeWhale’s own scholarship database and planning tools. It shows how many awards are available for Art majors, how much money is on the table, and what early-career pay and typical college costs can look like.
We currently have 118 Art scholarships available in our database. These awards may come from professional associations, nonprofit organizations, and private sponsors. We’re actively adding scholarships tied to Art. Check back often or use our main scholarship search to uncover more awards that fit your profile.
Across these listings, the total advertised award value comes to roughly $277,000. Many scholarships for this major list flexible or renewable award amounts. As we continue to add additional Art scholarships, this section will show an estimate of the total dollars currently available in our database.
Graduates with a Art degree commonly see early-career median pay around $53,000 per year, depending on location, employer type, and experience.
Art ROI Snapshot:
We estimate a typical 4-year net cost of college at about
$108,584.
First-year median earnings are roughly 49% of that total cost. At that pace, it would take about 2 years of early-career earnings to “earn back” your degree investment (before taxes and living costs).
The average cost of in-of-state college in the United States is $27,146 per student per year, including books, supplies, and daily living expenses. Out-of-state students pay $45,708 per year. Private, nonprofit university students pay $58,628. According to data provided by educationdata.org as of 8/2025. Our ROI calculation is based on in-state average tuition. Median pay statistics are provided by bls.gov
The CollegeWhale Scholarship FastFind™ makes it easy to discover the best Art scholarships — fast. Filter by award amount, deadline month, and estimated time to apply, then instantly download your personalized list. No sign-ups, no personal info, no spam — just real, verified scholarships.
The Creative Outlook Art Scholarship, run by Creative Outlook Magazine, gives high-school and college art students the chance to see their artwork featured in the magazine and earn a scholarship prize. Applicants may submit original artwork in a variety of
Award: $250 Deadline: September Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The Arts for Life! Scholarship, established in 1999 by former First Lady Columba Bush, supports Florida high school seniors who excel in the visual and performing arts. Annually, 25 scholarships are awarded to students demonstrating excellence in creative writing, dance,
Award: $1,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Med (~65 min)
The MJSA Education Foundation Jewelry Scholarship supports students pursuing jewelry-related curricula at accredited institutions. While applicants need not be Rhode Island residents, they must be enrolled in programs that focus on jewelry design, manufacturing, or related fields. The scholarship aims
Award: $500 Deadline: May Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship honors the legacy of Antonio Cirino, a distinguished artist and educator. This scholarship supports Rhode Island residents pursuing graduate studies in arts education or related fields, with the intention to teach. It aims to foster
Award: $2,000 Deadline: April Est. Time: Low (~10 min)
The Anthony Quinn Foundation Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial assistance to high school students who are passionate about the arts and wish to attend pre-college or summer intensive arts education programs. This scholarship honors the legacy of the
Award: $3,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Med (~38 min)
The Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship provides financial assistance to Asian American college students pursuing majors in the performing and visual arts, journalism, or mass communications. The scholarship aims to support students who have demonstrated leadership abilities through community service,
Award: $1,000 Deadline: March Est. Time: Low (~10 min)
The STARFLEET Scholarships program provides financial assistance to eligible members who are actively pursuing education in a wide range of academic or professional fields. The program was established to support members who demonstrate dedication to their education and involvement in
Award: $1,000 Deadline: Rolling Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The James Smithson Fellowship invites applications with the theme of “Migration,” encompassing topics ranging from the movement of species to the diaspora of humans. Migration is central to evolutionary dynamics, ecosystems, and cultural identity, making it a rich topic to
Award: $62,000 Deadline: February Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The Smithsonian Artist Research Fellowship (SARF) program, launched in 2007, offers outstanding visual artists from around the world the opportunity to work with Smithsonian museums, research sites, collections, and scholars to conduct research that inspires new artwork. Fellows spend one
Award: $5,000 Deadline: October Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The Smithsonian Big Ten Academic Alliance Fellowship is available to doctoral students from universities in the Big Ten Academic Alliance. Eligible applicants must have completed all degree requirements except the dissertation. The fellowship provides the opportunity for independent research in
Award: $45,000 Deadline: October Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The Smithsonian Postgraduate/Postdoctoral Fellowship in Conservation of Museum Collections offers opportunities to conduct research and gain further training in the conservation of museum collection objects. This opportunity is open to recent graduates of masters programs in art and archaeological conservation
Award: $45,000 Deadline: October Est. Time: Low (~13 min)
The Building Beautiful Futures Scholarship, powered by Dark & Lovely, is one of many funding opportunities available to Black female students and female students of color through NAACP's Inspire Initiatives. We offer scholarships to outstanding and qualified students pursuing undergraduate
Award: $10,000 Deadline: June Est. Time: Low (~10 min)This comprehensive collection of Art scholarships and grants for the 2026 - 2027 school years, curated from our regularly updated databases. To explore all available scholarship matches, visit our Scholarship Database and Grant Database, which both offer easy-to-use filters, current deadlines, and detailed eligibility information to help you discover the best Art scholarship opportunities.
Art majors bring imagination, emotion, and storytelling to life through painting, sculpture, illustration, ceramics, printmaking, photography, animation, design, and countless other creative forms. To support the next generation of artists, many colleges, nonprofit foundations, arts organizations, and private donors offer scholarships dedicated to students pursuing degrees in fine arts, visual arts, or design. These scholarships can help cover tuition, studio fees, supplies, and living expenses while encouraging artistic growth, experimentation, and professional development.
Whether you specialize in traditional mediums or digital creation, art scholarships offer valuable opportunities to fund your education, build your portfolio, and gain recognition for your creative potential. Below is a comprehensive guide covering the most common questions about art scholarships, including how to apply, portfolio tips, where to find the best awards, and opportunities for specific art disciplines.
Art scholarships and grants help creative students turn their passion into a viable career while reducing the financial burden of college. These awards vary widely in size, from small stipends for art supplies to large, merit-based scholarships that cover full tuition. Many organizations and art schools recognize artistic promise, leadership, and dedication to the arts by offering generous forms of financial support.
Scholarships are available at every stage of your artistic journey—from high school competitions to undergraduate art scholarships and grants for graduate-level fine arts programs. Some awards focus on traditional visual art, while others are tailored to digital art, game design, animation, illustration, and mixed media. In addition, private foundations and major art competitions offer national recognition, mentorship, and exhibitions for winners.
Whether you are a high school student sketching in your notebook or a college student refining an advanced portfolio, there are numerous opportunities to secure financial assistance. Art scholarships can support a wide range of disciplines, including drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, animation, character design, digital art, printmaking, visual communication, and more.
Undergraduate art students can apply for a wide range of scholarships based on talent, merit, portfolio quality, and academic performance. Universities often offer internal scholarships through their art departments or schools of design, while private organizations provide external funding opportunities.
Notable scholarships for undergraduate art students include:
Most undergraduate scholarships require a curated portfolio demonstrating creativity, skill, originality, and growth potential.
Yes. Many art scholarships and competitions are specifically designed for high school students preparing for college programs in visual arts, animation, illustration, or design. Winning or placing in these programs can significantly strengthen college applications and may lead to additional institutional scholarships.
Top scholarships and competitions for high school artists include:
These programs often serve as stepping stones into top art colleges and can help fund a large portion of a student’s education.
Yes, full-ride art scholarships exist, though they are extremely competitive and reserved for students demonstrating extraordinary artistic talent, technical skill, creativity, academic excellence, and leadership potential. These scholarships may cover tuition, room and board, art materials, and other expenses.
Examples of programs offering full-ride or near-full-ride scholarships include:
To be considered for a full-ride art scholarship, students typically need:
Full rides are rare but absolutely attainable—especially for students who start preparing early and tailor their portfolios to each school’s expectations.
Digital art scholarships support students studying animation, game design, digital illustration, motion graphics, 3D modeling, virtual reality, and interactive media. These awards often require a digital portfolio demonstrating creativity, design skill, and proficiency with software programs like Adobe Creative Cloud, Blender, Procreate, Maya, or Unity.
Popular digital art scholarships include:
Because digital art fields are rapidly growing, students with strong portfolios often have access to generous funding and internship opportunities.
Winning an art scholarship starts with presenting your artistic identity clearly through your portfolio, essays, and application materials. While requirements vary by program, most art scholarships evaluate students based on creativity, skill, originality, and potential for growth.
Steps to increase your chances of winning an art scholarship:
Above all, focus on expressing what makes your work unique. Judges want to see passion, originality, and a clear vision for your future as an artist.
Visual art scholarships focus on traditional artistic disciplines such as drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, and photography. These awards often emphasize skill development, portfolio strength, and commitment to fine art practices.
Examples of visual art scholarships include:
Visual art scholarships often require traditional portfolio reviews and may include interviews or written artist statements.
Yes. Drawing scholarships support traditional and digital artists who excel in line, form, composition, gesture, shading, and visual storytelling.
Popular drawing-focused scholarships include:
Applicants typically submit several drawing samples that show technical ability as well as creativity and style.
The Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award is a prestigious scholarship program offering up to $10,000 to exceptional high school students with outstanding artistic ability. While the program is widely associated with music, it also supports visual and performing arts in certain categories. Winners receive not only generous financial support but also mentorship, access to national arts programs, and opportunities to participate in masterclasses or collaborations.
The Animation Guild Scholarship supports students pursuing animation, storyboarding, concept design, digital illustration, visual effects, and other animation-related fields. Funded by The Animation Guild (IATSE Local 839), the scholarship helps aspiring creatives entering film, television, gaming, and interactive entertainment industries.
Recipients are typically evaluated on their portfolios, dedication to the craft, and potential to contribute to the animation industry.
Yes. Photography students can apply for scholarships at the college, regional, and national levels. These scholarships often require a portfolio of 8–20 photographs demonstrating composition, lighting, creativity, and technical skill.
Examples include:
Students focusing on graphic design, illustration, visual communication, or digital design have access to targeted scholarships based on portfolio strength and design skills.
Notable examples include:
Pursuing an art degree doesn’t have to mean taking on overwhelming student loan debt. With the right strategy, students can earn thousands of dollars in art scholarships, or even a full ride, by submitting strong applications and compelling portfolios. Start by identifying your artistic focus—whether it’s fine art, animation, digital media, illustration, or photography—then tailor your materials to programs that align with your strengths.
Submit your best work, apply early and often, and don’t limit yourself to one type of scholarship. Many of the most generous art scholarships aren’t just about technical skill—they reward passion, creativity, persistence, and a clear artistic vision. With preparation and dedication, you can secure meaningful financial support and take confident steps toward your future in the arts.
Reviewed by CollegeWhale Editorial Team on November, 2025. Content is updated regularly to reflect current scholarship deadlines and verified data from official sources.
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