Putting your education within reach.
Through a range of competitions and other opportunities, The Art Institutes system of schools is offering full and partial scholarships to new and current students during the upcoming school year. We also offer a variety of financial resources to help qualified students manage their school expenses. Our dedicated Student Financial Aid officers will help you explore all your options—including grants, loans, and scholarships—as you prepare to launch a creative career where you do what you love.
Download a Printable Copy of Our Scholarship Flyer Here
Financial aid is available for those who qualify.
Art Grant
Earn an average of up to 20% towards your bachelor's degree and up to 15% for your associate's degree.
Art Grant
Animation & Effects Culinary Fashion Film & Production Gaming & Technology Interior Design Marketing Visual Design
Earn an average of up to 20% towards your bachelor's degree and up to 15% for your associate's degree.
No deadline currently exists for this scholarship.
Bachelor’s and associate level programs that are eligible for an Art Grant are available in the following areas of study: Animation & Effects, Culinary, Fashion, Film & Production, Gaming & Technology, Interior & Product Design, Marketing and Visual Design.
For every 12 credits earned, as you maintain continuous enrollment and satisfy other eligibility criteria, you earn the grant to be applied to your tuition in the form of a tuition credit applied during the next successive academic quarter. Students who earn their first 0-90 credits at an Art Institutes school will earn the grant at up to 15% of tuition cost. Students who earn 91-180 credits will earn the grant at up to 25% of tuition cost; bachelor’s degree candidates can thereby earn an average of up to 20% of their tuition cost.
All new and current students are eligible, and there are no GPA requirements beyond Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.
The Art Grant is offered at all Art Institutes schools except for The Art Institute of Pittsburgh—Online Division. Amounts vary by location. Check with the school you’re considering attending for exceptions and details.
Your actual total grant award may vary by program, degree, amount of credits to be completed in a program after the effective date of Art Grant availability, violations of school policies, or breaks in enrollment. Your total tuition charges may be impacted by course drops, course withdrawals, or failing grades. Check with the school for exceptions and details. Students must read and sign a Memorandum of Understanding regarding The Art Grant, which sets forth eligibility requirements and other conditions, before any grant is awarded.
Figures based on tuition as of July 2015.
Financial Aid available to those who qualify.
The Illinois Institute of Art—Chicago High School Scholarship Competition
$3,000 to $7,500
The Illinois Institute of Art—Chicago High School Scholarship Competition
Animation & Effects Culinary Fashion Film & Production Gaming & Technology Interior Design Marketing Visual Design
$3,000 to $7,500
Deadline: 3/29/2018• You may also hand-deliver your entry by 4:00 PM local time, Thursday, March 29, 2018.
• Winners will be notified by April 20, 2018.
• Winners have until May 18, 2018 to accept the scholarship offer. Offers not accepted by that date will be rescinded and awarded to the first runner-up. Students must begin their course of study at The Illinois Institute of Art--Chicago in the summer or fall quarter of 2018.
• Your scholarship competition entry materials must be in the specified formats. If you submit electronic documents, they must be in Word format, PDFs, or jpegs. If you submit slides, they must have cardboard or plastic mounts and be placed in slide pages. If you submit video or animation, it must be in QuickTime format (.mov). All slides, digital files, USBs must be labeled with your name and the medium used (if appropriate). Do not submit original artwork. Entries not submitted in the specified formats may be disqualified.
Academic Achievement Scholarship
The Academic Achievement Scholarship allows qualifying new students to earn up to a 20% tuition scholarship, up to $17,390 by maintaining an honors level Grade Point Average (GPA) and completing community service related projects in their field of study while attending Ai as a full-time student.
Academic Achievement Scholarship
Culinary Fashion Marketing Visual Design Animation & Effects Film & Production Gaming & Technology Interior Design
The Academic Achievement Scholarship allows qualifying new students to earn up to a 20% tuition scholarship, up to $17,390 by maintaining an honors level Grade Point Average (GPA) and completing community service related projects in their field of study while attending Ai as a full-time student.
Deadline: Students need to begin classes by August 16, 2018
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & CRITERIA
• Student must be registered full time as defined in The Art Institute's Catalog.
• ACT and SAT scores recommended but not required.
• Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 4.0 from high school or prior college; transcripts must be provided for verification.
• Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 to 4.0 while attending The Art Institute.
• Three letters of recommendation; combination of high school guidance counselor and teachers or 3 teachers or community leaders.
• Must show portfolio of work.
• 1st and 2nd year recipients must complete two community service projects in their field of study and submit the projects to be reviewed by a committee.
• 3rd year recipients must complete one community service project in their field of student and submit the project to be reviewed by a committee.
• Must remain continuously enrolled, with no breaks in enrollment.
• Must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), as defined in The Art Institute's catalog.
• Must be enrolled in a Certificate, Diploma, Associate degree, or Bachelor degree academic program at The Art Institute.
• Must have the Memorandum of Understanding completed, signed, dated, and on file with the institution in order for the Scholarship to be disbursed.
• Employees or eligible immediate family members participating in the DCEH Tuition Voucher Program are not eligible to participate in the Scholarship program.
• Maintain a GPA of 3.8 to 4.0 on a cumulative basis each quarter to receive up to a 20% tuition scholarship value, up to $17,390.*
• Maintain a GPA of 3.5 to 3.79 on a cumulative basis each quarter to receive up to a 15% tuition scholarship value, up to $13,045.*
* The Scholarship amount is based on the initial award. In the event the student earns a higher or lower cumulative GPA in a subsequent quarter, if applicable, the student must maintain the cumulative GPA identified from the initial award in order to continue receiving the Scholarship. Your actual total grant award may vary by program, degree, amount of credits to be completed in a program after the effective date of Academic Achievement Scholarship availability, violations of school policies, or breaks in enrollment. Your total tuition charges may be impacted by course drops, course withdrawals, or failing grades. Check with the school for exceptions and details.
Early Acceptance Grant
$1,000
Early Acceptance Grant
Culinary Fashion Film & Production Gaming & Technology Interior Design Marketing Visual Design Animation & Effects
$1,000
The Early Acceptance Grant is designed to provide a $1,000 tuition award to incoming Ai students with unmet financial need. To qualify, you must be accepted into The Art Institutes, complete all steps in the financial aid process, and accept this grant no later than Friday, June 1, 2018. Click here for eligibility requirements and conditions.
C-CAP Careers Through Culinary Arts Program
$38,000 to $95,000
C-CAP Careers Through Culinary Arts Program
Culinary
$38,000 to $95,000
Deadline: No deadline currently exists for this scholarship.
Programs in the following area of study are eligible for the C-CAP Scholarships: Culinary.
High school seniors graduating in 2018 who are enrolled in a C-CAP culinary program may compete for one nationwide, full-tuition scholarship to be used for either a two- or four-year degree program at any one of our U.S. schools comprising The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes. Scholarship value is approximately $38,000–$95,000; current tuition rates at chosen school will apply. Tuition scholarships are not redeemable for cash. The tuition scholarship covers academic tuition and may not be applied against fees, housing, living expenses, or program supplies and may not be transferred between affiliate schools.
For more information on how to apply for C-CAP, speak to the C-CAP Director at your high school, visit www.ccapinc.org, or call 212-974-7111.
FCCLA Competitions
$1,000 to $12,000
FCCLA Competitions
Culinary Animation & Effects Fashion Film & Production Gaming & Technology Interior Design Visual Design Marketing
$1,000 to $12,000
Deadline: No deadline currently exists for this scholarship.
Programs that are eligible for the FCCLA Competitions are available in the following areas of study: Animation & Effects, Culinary, Fashion, Film & Production, Gaming & Technology, Interior & Product Design, Marketing and Visual Design.
All FCCLA tuition scholarships are renewable for up to 4 years for a maximum first-place scholarship of $12,000; maximum second-place scholarship of $8,000; and a maximum third-place scholarship of $4,000.
First-place team of the National FCCLA Culinary Competition will be awarded a $3,000 tuition scholarship to any one of our U.S. schools comprising The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes. A $2,000 tuition scholarship for second-place team and a $1,000 tuition scholarship for third-place team will also be awarded.
First-place award of the National FCCLA Fashion Design and Fashion Construction Competitions will be a $3,000 tuition scholarship to any one of The Art Institutes schools in the U.S. offering a Fashion program. A $2,000 tuition scholarship for second-place and a $1,000 tuition scholarship for third-place will also be awarded in each competition.
First-place team of the National FCCLA Hospitality Competition will be awarded a $3,000 tuition scholarship to any one of our U.S. schools comprising The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes. A $2,000 tuition scholarship for second-place team winners and a $1,000 tuition scholarship for third-place team winners will also be awarded.
First-place winners (either team or individual) of the National FCCLA Interior Design Competition will be awarded a $3,000 tuition scholarship to any one of The Art Institutes schools in the U.S. offering an Interior Design program. A $2,000 tuition scholarship for second-place and a $1,000 tuition scholarship for third-place will also be awarded (either team or individual).
To learn more about FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) scholarships, competitions, and events, visit www.fcclainc.org. Applicants for the scholarships noted above must be a senior graduating in the competing year, and a legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia. For additional content and details, contact The Art Institutes here.
ProStart State Scholarships
$3,000 to $12,000
ProStart State Scholarships
Culinary
$3,000 to $12,000
Deadline: No deadline currently exists for this scholarship.
Programs in the following area of study are eligible for the ProStart State Scholarships: Culinary
The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes is pleased to award first-place scholarships in the ProStart state-level Culinary Arts and/or Culinary Management Competitions in: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The first-place awards are a $3,000 scholarship, renewable for up to four years for a maximum of $12,000, to attend any of our schools offering culinary programs across the U.S. Applicants must be high school seniors graduating in 2018. For additional content and details, contact The Art Institutes here.
National ProStart Invitational
$5,000 - $10,000
National ProStart Invitational
Culinary
$5,000 - $10,000
Deadline: 5/1/2018
Programs in the following area of study are eligible for the National ProStart Invitational : Culinary
High school seniors graduating in 2018 who are enrolled in a ProStart program are eligible for the National ProStart Invitational Culinary Competition Scholarship (15 available nationwide) and Management Competition Scholarship (15 available nationwide). Competition winners may receive partial tuition scholarships.
First-place award for the National ProStart Invitational Culinary Competition and Management Competition will be a non-renewable $10,000 tuition scholarship to any one of our U.S. schools comprising The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes. A non-renewable $7,500 tuition scholarship for second place and a non-renewable $5,000 tuition scholarship for third place will also be awarded. Applicants must be high school seniors graduating in 2018 and enrolled in a ProStart program to be eligible for the competition.
For more information, visit the ProStart website at NRAEF.org or call 1-800-765-2122. For additional content and details, contact The Art Institutes here.
ProStart (Advance Placement Credits)
Up to 12 credits
ProStart (Advance Placement Credits)
Culinary
Up to 12 credits
Deadline: No deadline currently exists for this scholarship.
Programs in the following area of study are eligible for the ProStart (Advanced Placement Credits): Culinary
High school students graduating in 2018 who complete the ProStart culinary program with a C average or above and obtain a ProStart National Certificate of Achievement may receive Advance Placement credit at any of over 40 U.S. schools of The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes.* Advance Placement rewards students for their skills, saving them time and money.
Students may receive academic credit up to 12 credits (valued at over $5,000) for any of the following courses:**
- Concepts and Theories
- Fundamentals of Classical Techniques
- Management, Supervision, and Career Prep
- Culinary Nutrition***
Additional credits may be articulated to ProStart students on a case-by-case basis upon review by the local school’s Chef Director and Dean of Academic Affairs.
* Passport credits are accepted at all U.S. Art Institutes affiliated schools. Degree and program offerings vary by school.
** To receive Advance Placement credit, students must submit a ProStart Certificate of Achievement which will be reviewed by the local school’s Chef Director and Dean of Academic Affairs. The Fundamentals of Classical Techniques class requires the student to successfully pass the courses Final Knife Skills and Final Practical Cooking Exam in order to obtain advance placement credit.
*** Some restrictions apply for approval of Culinary Nutrition credits. Contact local school for details.
DECA Scholarship
$1,000 - $7,500
DECA Scholarship
Visual Design Interior Design Marketing Animation & Effects Film & Production Gaming & Technology Fashion Culinary
$1,000 - $7,500
Deadline: No deadline currently exists for this scholarship.
Programs that are eligible for the DECA Scholarship are available in the following areas of study: Animation & Effects, Culinary, Fashion, Film & Production, Gaming & Technology, Interior & Product Design, Marketing and Visual Design.
DECA high school senior students graduating in 2018 are eligible to receive up to a $1,000 scholarship for participation in the organization.
DECA high school senior students graduating in 2018 who are members of DECA can compete in DECA State and/or DECA International competitions.
STATE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
DECA students who are first place winners at the State Level competitions can receive up to $1,500 in addition to the member amount.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
DECA students who are first-place winners at the DECA International Career Development Conference (ICDC) competitions can receive $5,000 in addition to the DECA State Scholarship and the member amount.
DEADLINES & IMPORTANT DATES
DECA’s ICDC will be held in April 2018. For details, visit www.deca.org. Winners of the DECA State and/or DECA International competitions may contact The Art Institutes for scholarship details or visit www.deca.org/partners/artinstitutes.
DECA APPLICATION, ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & CRITERIA
- Recipients are permitted to choose The Art Institutes school of their choice within the U.S.
- DECA chapter members must be in a classroom (elective class) setting within their school and taking a course in marketing, finance, hospitality, entrepreneurship and/or management. The Art Institutes will verify membership with DECA.
- Scholarships are available to DECA members who are residents of the U.S., Puerto Rico or Canada (excluding residents of Quebec).
Scholarship awards are contingent upon acceptance to the chosen Art Institutes school and are awarded in the form of a tuition credit. All tuition scholarships are awarded toward a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, diploma program, or certificate program. Tuition scholarships are non-transferable. Upon accepting the scholarship, the winner must begin his or her studies in the summer or fall quarter following high school graduation. Winners must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher. Tuition scholarships are not redeemable for cash. The tuition scholarship covers academic tuition and may not be applied against fees, housing, living expenses, or program supplies and may not be transferred between affiliate schools. Scholarship recipients must not interrupt their studies; interruption of studies will result in loss of the scholarship. Scholarships are non-renewable.
Future Business Leaders of America National Scholarship Program
$10,000 to $15,000
Future Business Leaders of America National Scholarship Program
Visual Design Interior Design Marketing Animation & Effects Film & Production Gaming & Technology Fashion Culinary
$10,000 to $15,000
Deadline: 3/28/2018
Programs that are eligible for the Future Business Leaders of America National Scholarship Program are available in the following areas of study: Animation & Effects, Culinary, Fashion, Film & Production, Gaming & Technology, Interior & Product Design, Marketing and Visual Design.
High school seniors graduating in 2018 who are members of FBLA may apply for The Art Institutes Future Business Leaders of America Scholarship. Details and an application form may be obtained here, or by contacting The Art Institutes.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
- Three nationwide $10,000 FBLA tuition scholarships to study at one of The Art Institutes schools will be awarded.
- Each scholarship award recipient who has a 3.0 GPA during his/her first year may earn an additional $5,000 tuition scholarship.
DEADLINES & IMPORTANT DATES
Applications must be postmarked by midnight, March 28, 2018.
Winners will be notified after April 25, 2018.
HOW TO ENTER
Applicants for the scholarship must submit the following information:
- A completed entry form indicating the school and program of study desired. (School locations can be obtained at www.artinstitutes.edu/our-campuses)
- An essay (minimum of 500 words) legibly handwritten or typed in English as to “How skills learned through Future Business Leaders of America can apply to a creative career.”
- A letter of recommendation from their FBLA adviser.
To simplify the submission process, please enclose all elements of your application in one envelope and mail it to The Art Institutes, attn.: FBLA Scholarship - 1500 Penn Ave 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2603.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & CRITERIA
Applicants must be (i) a high school senior graduating in 2018, (ii) a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec), and (iii) an active member of FBLA.
- Recipients must apply their tuition scholarship to either July 2018, August 2018 or October 2018 enrollment. The tuition scholarship will be applied evenly over the first year of the program or degree.
- Recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA to earn the additional $5,000 tuition scholarship which will be applied evenly over the second year of the degree program.
Winners will be selected by representatives of The Art Institutes. Decisions of the judges will be final.
Scholarship awards are contingent upon acceptance to the chosen Art Institutes school and are awarded in the form of a tuition credit. All tuition scholarships are awarded toward a bachelor’s or associates degree, diploma program, or certificate program. Tuition scholarships are non-transferable. Upon accepting the scholarship, the winner must begin his or her studies in the summer or fall quarter following high school graduation. Winners must have a 3.0 GPA or higher during his or her studies at the chosen Art Institutes school. In the event that the scholarship recipient’s education is terminated, either by the school or by the student, the scholarship becomes null and void. Tuition scholarships are not redeemable for cash. The tuition scholarship covers academic tuition and may not be applied against fees, housing, living expenses, or program supplies and may not be transferred between affiliate schools. Scholarship recipients must not interrupt their studies; interruption of studies will result in loss of the scholarship.
All entry materials become the property of The Art Institutes. The Art Institutes is not responsible for loss, damage, or return of any materials.
National Art Honor Society Scholarship
$5,000 to $20,000
National Art Honor Society Scholarship
Animation & Effects Culinary Fashion Film & Production Gaming & Technology Interior Design Marketing Visual Design
$5,000 to $20,000
Deadline: 3/7/2018
Programs that are eligible for the National Art Honor Society Scholarship are available in the following areas of study: Animation & Effects, Culinary, Fashion, Film & Production, Gaming & Technology, Interior & Product Design, Marketing and Visual Design.
High school seniors graduating in 2018 who also belong to the National Art Honor Society may apply for The Art Institutes National Art Honor Society Scholarship. Details and an application form may be obtained here, or by contacting The Art Institutes. Tuition scholarships for first-, second-, and third-place awards may be applied at The Art Institutes school of recipient’s choice.
SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Three nationwide scholarships are available:
- First-place: $20,000 tuition scholarship
- Second-place: $10,000 tuition scholarship
- Third-place: $5,000 tuition scholarship
DEADLINES & IMPORTANT DATES
Applications must be postmarked by midnight, March 7, 2018.
Winners will be notified after April 4th, 2018.
HOW TO ENTER
Applicants for the scholarship must submit the following information. To simplify the submission process, please enclose all elements of your application in one envelope and mail it to The Art Institutes, attn.: National Art Honor Society Scholarship – 1500 Penn Ave. 2nd floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222-2603.
- A completed entry form indicating the school and program of study desired. (School locations can be obtained at www.artinstitutes.edu/our-campuses)
- Six slides of six different original pieces of artwork that represent your creative ability and interest.Please Submit via digital files/usb.
- A statement, legibly handwritten or typed in English, describing your artistic career goals, the materials used in the pieces submitted and how each piece was created.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & CRITERIA
Applicants must be (i) a high school senior graduating in 2018, (ii) a legal resident of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, or Canada (excluding Quebec), and (iii) a member of the National Art Honor Society.
Scholarship awards are contingent upon acceptance to the chosen Art Institutes school and are awarded in the form of a tuition credit applied evenly over the course of the student's academic program. All tuition scholarships are awarded toward a bachelor’s or associate’s degree, diploma program, or certificate program. Tuition scholarships are non-transferable. Upon accepting the scholarship, the recipient must begin his or her studies in the summer or fall quarter following high school graduation. Recipients must maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher during his or her studies at the chosen Art Institutes school; a GPA of less than 2.5 will result in a loss of scholarship. In the event that the scholarship recipient’s education is terminated, either by the school or by the student, the scholarship becomes null and void. Tuition scholarships are not redeemable for cash. The tuition scholarship covers academic tuition and may not be applied against fees, housing, living expenses, or program supplies and may not be transferred between affiliate schools. Scholarship recipients must not interrupt their studies; interruption of studies will result in a loss of the scholarship.
All entry materials become the property of The Art Institutes. The judging team is not responsible for loss, damage, or return of entry materials.
SkillsUSA Championship
$2,500 to $20,000
SkillsUSA Championship
Visual Design Interior Design Marketing Animation & Effects Film & Production Gaming & Technology Fashion Culinary
$2,500 to $20,000
Deadline: 6/1/2018
Programs that are eligible for the SkillsUSA Championship are available in the following areas of study: Animation & Effects, Culinary, Fashion, Film & Production, Gaming & Technology, Interior & Product Design, Marketing and Visual Design.
Secondary and postsecondary students who are members of SkillsUSA may compete in national championships.
Advertising Design, Culinary, and Photography championship awards (6 nationwide scholarships available in each category):
- First-place: $20,000 tuition scholarship
- Second-place: $5,000 tuition scholarship
- Third-place: $2,500 tuition scholarship
3-D Visualization & Animation, Web Design, and Television Production championship team awards (12 nationwide scholarships available in each category):
- First-place: $10,000 tuition scholarship
- Second-place: $5,000 tuition scholarship
- Third-place: $2,500 tuition scholarship
Tuition scholarships are not redeemable for cash. The SkillsUSA scholarships cover academic tuition and may not be applied against fees, housing, living expenses, or program supplies and may not be transferred between affiliate schools. Scholarships are awarded on first-come, first served basis.
DEADLINES & IMPORTANT DATES
SkillsUSA National championships will be held in June 2018. For details, call 703-777-8810 or visit www.skillsusa.org. Winners of the SkillsUSA competition may contact The Art Institutes for scholarship details.
Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society Scholarship
$1,000
Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society Scholarship
Animation & Effects Culinary Fashion Film & Production Gaming & Technology Interior Design Marketing Visual Design
$1,000
Deadline: No deadline currently exists for this scholarship.
Programs that are eligible for the Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship are available in the following areas of study: Animation & Effects, Culinary, Fashion, Film & Production, Gaming & Technology, Interior & Product Design, Marketing and Visual Design.
The Art Institutes system is proud to offer a $1,000 Tuition Scholarship to all eligible Phi Theta Kappa members. Phi Theta Kappa members who graduate with an associate’s degree from a community college and have been accepted into a bachelor’s degree program at any Art Institutes school are eligible to receive the scholarship. The $1,000 Tuition scholarship will be awarded upon acceptance and enrollment into a bachelor’s degree program and applied to the first quarter.
Phi Theta Kappa members must show documented membership and provide a college transcript for the associates degree earned. Indication of membership should be noted on the application for admission.