Competitive Scholarship Application Procedures for All Freshmen
Step 1: Application for Admission and Scholarships (CommonApp)
You must be accepted for admission to MICA in order to receive an award. You should indicate that you would like to be considered for merit-based scholarships in your application. Then select if you would like to be considered for portfolio-based scholarship, academic-based scholarships, or the National Art Honor Society scholarship. Submit all required admission application materials by the application deadline.
Step 2: Portfolio of Artwork
The portfolio of artwork you prepare for your admission application also serves as your portfolio for the competitive scholarships for which you apply.
Scholarships
Creative Vision Award
All admitted students are automatically considered for the Creative Vision Award based on the overall strength of the application. This merit-based scholarship ranges from $7,000 to $17,500 annually and is renewable for up to four years.
In addition, accepted students are automatically considered for another phase of merit scholarship awarding through MICA's Competitive Scholarship Program. This competition is juried by faculty members in February and recipients will be notified in mid March. (Most students receive additional scholarships in that competition ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 per year.)
Additional Scholarships:
Thalheimer Scholarship
Competitive scholarships based on portfolio are available and supplement the Creative Vision Award. These are competitive scholarships offered to a limited number of accepted students. These scholarships recognize students whose portfolios show the highest level of skill, artistic voice, and resolution.
National Art Honor Society Scholarships
Fifty $4,000 to $8,000 merit-based scholarships allocated over four years are awarded each year to high school seniors who are members of the National Art Honor Society.
Bristor Scholarship
The Ruth Jenkins Bristor '35 scholarship was established by William Beverly Bristor, Jr., in memory of his mother, MICA alumna Ruth Jenkins Bristor. This competition provides scholarships up to $20,000 allocated over four years to high school seniors with both financial need and a combination of academic and artistic achievement.
Cohen Scholarship
The Ben and Zelda Cohen Scholarship was established by the daughters of Ben and Zelda Cohen, MICA trustee Rosalee Davison and her sister, Charlotte Cohen Weinberg. This scholarship awards up to $80,000 over four years to assist and entering first-year freshman student who intends to major in Art History or Environmental Design.
Mathias J. Devito Scholarship Program
This merit-based competition awards one $60,000 scholarship, allocated over four years, to a high school senior demonstrating talent and promise based on a portfolio of artwork. The selection criteria also include personal character; an inquisitive, open, and discerning mind; and an interest in the social and cultural context for making art.
Land Scholarship
Recognizing the legacy of Arnell Lewis Land, this scholarship is designed to encourage and enable artistic students, with a preference for women from the South (like Mrs. Land), to pursue their innate talents in general fine arts, painting, ceramics, drawing, illustration, and sculpture, The Land Scholarship awards up to $40,000 annually.
Fred and Jonna Lazarus Scholarship
The Fred and Jonna Lazarus endowed scholarship provides financial support to an entering student who exhibits exceptional talent and achievement, and who embodies the qualities of MICA's core values. The competition awards one $48,000 scholarship, allocated over four years.
Rett Nearburg Scholarship
This scholarship will award up to $30,000 allocated over four years, to students whose portfolios demonstrate artistic talent and potential with an emphasis on digital arts media. The scholarship recognizes academic achievement and an interest in pursuing a major in interactive media or any digitally based arts discipline. The number of scholarship offers and amounts will be determined on the basis of both meritorious achievement and financial need.
Don F. Turano '59 Fund Scholarship
Recognizing the legacy of sculptor Don Turano '59, this $14,000 scholarship is allocated over four years for an outstanding student based on meritorious achievement and financial need.
YoungArts Awards
MICA offers a $2,500 annual scholarship, renewable for four years, to high school seniors who have been selected as winners by the YoungArts award jury in their awards categories. Candidates will be contacted in early April if they are eligible for this award. YoungArts award recipients at MICA are selected on the basis of both meritorious achievement and financial need. To receive a scholarship application from YoungArts, go to www.YoungArts.org. This scholarship is funded by MICA.
Scholastic Art Awards
MICA offers a $2,500 annual scholarship, renewable for four years, to high school seniors who have been selected by the Scholastic Art Awards jury as an award recipient in the National Portfolio Competition. Candidates will be contacted in early April if they are eligible for this award. Please note: If you wish to be considered for this scholarship, you will need to list MICA as one of your top three preferred are colleges with Scholastic, Inc. To receive a scholarship application from Scholastic Art Awards, go to www.artandwriting.org. This scholarship is funded by MICA.
National ACT-SO Competition Match
MICA will match awards received by junior or senior level high school students selected by the National ACT-SO Competition of the NAACP as medal winners. The following scholarships are renewable each year over four years: Gold $2,000, Silver $1,500, Bronze $1,000. For more information on the competition go to www.naacp.org.
Latino Art Beat Scholarship
MICA offers matching scholarships to high school seniors who have been selected as winners in the Latino Art Beat National High School "Hispanic Heritage" Art Competition in their award categories. Students living in Miami, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, and the District of Columbia are eligible. Scholarship amounts vary from $2,000 to $20,000, allocated over four years. For information on the competition, email latinoartbeat@hotmail.com.
Scholarships for Maryland Freshmen Only
Chick West Scholarship
Recognizing the legacy of longtime high school and innovative digital arts educator Chick West '65, '68, this annual award of $3,500 is offered to an incoming freshman from Baltimore County who wishes to pursue an education focusing on digital media.
Irving and Lois Blum Foundation Scholarship
The Lois and Irving Blum Foundation Scholarship helps make it possible for outstanding students with financial need to attend college. Up to $40,000 in scholarships, allocated over four years, are awarded to outstanding students from the Baltimore School for the Arts.
Marion I. and Henry J Knott Scholarship Program
Students selected for this scholarship receive up to $18,000 merit-based awards, allocated over four years. The scholarship is awarded to outstanding high school students who are Catholic and attend schools within the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This scholarship was established by the Marion & Henry Knott Foundation.
Lenore Fund Scholarship
This award recognizes Baltimore-area candidates with exceptional artistic talent and financial need. The Lenore Fund Scholarship memorializes Lenore Schwarzer Fried, to assist and encourage students with financial need to enroll in art instruction. Up to $2,000 in scholarships allocated over four years are awarded to students.