Financial Aid Support
Financing a graduate degree can look different for each individual. Below are consolidated resources starting with MFA DSI’s own departmental awards, introducing SVA resources, and finally curating a list of external resources. Some resources are available to all students, while others are designated for domestic or international students.
MFA DSI Departmental Awards
MFA DSI offers financial awards and two departmental scholarship awards based on merit and/or need.
Our departmental awards are offered over the two years to help with tuition costs. Applicants who apply by SVA’s Priority Deadline are automatically considered for awards and can expect notice about any departmental awards shortly following notice of admission.
Please note that MFA DSI department awards are applied directly to tuition costs and cannot be used for any related fees and expenses. Recipients must maintain good academic standing.
DSI offers the Paul Polak Award of $28,000, applied to tuition over the two-year period (distributed $14,000 per year), to one incoming student. Paul has been a friend, advisor, and inspiration to our program, as well as to the millions of people around the world whose lives he has changed through his work to end poverty.
Eligibility: Applicants to DSI will automatically be considered for the Paul Polak Award by meeting SVA’s priority application deadline; no separate application is required.
Envisioned in 2020 to create pathways for underrepresented communities in design, DSI offers the Equity in Design Award to address intersectional oppressions and promote equitable opportunities, starting with our own student community. The award aims to grant $28,000, applied to tuition over the two-year period (distributed $14,000 per year), to one incoming student.
Eligibility: This award is relevant to those who are:
- A U.S. citizen.
- Indicate interest in the scholarship in their letter of intent.
- Self-identify as someone from a historically underrepresented community in design (such as IBPOC, disabled, and/or LGBTQ+IA transgender/nonbinary). This information will be left up to the applicant’s discretion, and no explanation is needed.
DSI offers assistantship positions at MFA DSI as a part of SVA’s student worker program. Please inquire if you are interested.
Some classes offer funding for social enterprise projects.
We also regularly receive excellent internship and freelance opportunities in social design through our network of faculty, students, and alumni. These opportunities are circulated via newsletters and announcements for current students. While the department makes these opportunities available to students, applications must be negotiated directly with the employer.
SVA Resources
SVA provides support for the direct costs associated with completing a final thesis project. The grant ranges from $500 to $2,000 based upon academic and artistic merit as determined by a review panel, and financial need as demonstrated by the project budget. The average award is expected to be $1,000, but it may vary. Application information is distributed via email to second-year students in the fall semester.
Available to full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students. Based on the student’s financial need, as determined by the completion and submission of the FAFSA. SVA will match outside scholarships payable to SVA, up to $2,500, that a student obtains for enrollment at SVA.
External Funding Resources
SVA permits students to use external funding to support their tuition costs. Find a curated list of resources to identify scholarships, grants, and funding you may be eligible for. DSI does not partner or promote any of the following services, but rather we aggregate a list of opportunities.
SVA permits students to use external funding to support their tuition costs. Find a curated list of resources to identify scholarships, grants, and funding you may be eligible for. DSI does not partner or promote any of the following services, but rather we aggregate a list of opportunities.
The Foundation Center
Provides a list of graduate scholarship resources in all disciplines. International students are eligible.
SmartScholar
An easily searchable database of scholarship and award opportunities, and a set of resources for both domestic and international students.
Fastweb
One of the most popular search sites for scholarships, which, with a quick registration you can search for free. By entering information about yourself and your areas of study, the site matches you with scholarship opportunities.
College Board’s Scholarship Search
Bears some similarities to Fastweb in that you can build a personalized profile to help you find scholarships, plus you can use online calculators for estimating your “Expected Family Contribution” for federal financial aid eligibility.
IEFA
IEFA is the premier resource for financial aid, college scholarship and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad. This site has college scholarship search and grant listings, plus international student loan programs and other information.
Global Student Loan Corporation
The Global Student Loan® is a comprehensive education loan for international and distance learning students that does not require a co-signer from another country.
Knight Foundation
Supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged.
Worldstudio AIGA Scholarships
Benefits minority and economically disadvantaged students who are studying the design/arts disciplines in colleges and universities in the United States.
Design Trust for the Public Space Fellowships
Awarded to qualified professionals whose work will complement the Design Trust’s specific programs at hand. Fellows have included architects, urban planners, journalists, preservationists, photographers, and graphic artists. Fellows are offered a lead role on projects designed to have a substantial impact on New York City.
Sappi Ideas that Matter
Since 1999, the program has awarded $13 million worldwide to designers around the globe to support and transform creative ideas into a powerful force for social good. It is the industry’s only grant program aimed at helping designers contribute their talents to the charitable activities they care about most.
The New York Foundation for the Arts, NYFA
Offers a variety of grants to artists living and working in the state of New York.
The Art Deadlines List
Includes contests, grants, scholarships, fellowships, jobs, and internships in arts and design.
Toptal Scholarships for Women
Toptal will award five scholarships to aspiring female leaders in five global regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. Each winner will receive (US)$10,000 and a year of weekly one-on-one mentoring by a Toptal expert. Application deadlines depend on which region the applicant lives in. Application timelines are available on the scholarship website.
Chegg Scholarships
A scholarship search engine used by over 4 million students nationwide. Chegg allows you to search through over 25,000 scholarships, filter by minimum GPA, easily view the application deadline at a glance and more.
Federal Resources (FAFSA)
Domestic Students are eligible to apply for FAFSA to determine federal financial aid eligibility. SVA’s Financial Aid Office has a variety of information relevant to this process.
For those who qualify, SVA offers a Federal work-study program with on-and off-campus employment opportunities, most of which are in the field of the student’s choice. Departments on-campus include areas such as the Library, Film Library, or Financial Aid offices.
The National Endowment for the Arts
Recognizes design’s ever-present role by funding activities across the design disciplines that encourage, preserve, and disseminate the best in American and global design and its impact on communities.
International Applicants
Students attending school on a visa do not qualify for federal and state Financial Aid. There are some alternative loans that you can apply for with a co-signer who is a U.S. Citizen. We also recommend applying for scholarships through your local agencies. You may research scholarship opportunities at http://www.iefa.org, a scholarship search engine which focuses on international students.
EduPass
Published by the creator of Fastweb and FinAid, this site provides guidance for international students, from college admissions and scholarships to visa and passport information.
