“MECA is committed to making our exceptional educational experience affordable. Welcoming students of all income levels is at the heart of who we are. When financial aid is factored in, many students are surprised to find that the cost of attending MECA is comparable to or less than that of a state school.” - President Donald Tuski
Financial aid programs and services assist students and families with paying for college. Over 85% of Maine College of Art's BFA degree students receive some type of financial assistance. Students at Maine College of Art receive more than $3 million annually in the form of scholarships, grants, loans, and job opportunities. The College provides over $1.3 million directly to support the aid programs available to students.
The Maine College of Art FAFSA code is 011673.
Complete the application online
If you are not applying for financial aid, you need to complete and return the release form [PDF].
The Financial Aid staff is available to assist you with the application process.
You can contact them at finaid@MECA.edu or at 1.800.639.4808 ext 5074.
The Maine College of Art FAFSA code is 011673.
Online Resources
- StudentLoans.gov
- The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid
- Apply for a private loan
- Enroll in a payment plan
- FAME Money Management Counseling
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid Site
Federal Verification Worksheets
- Federal Programs
- Federal Pell Grants
- Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Work-Study
- Federal Perkins Loan
- Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
- Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
- Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (FPLUS)
For specific federal program information, please refer to the Federal Student Guide.
State Programs
Many states offer financial aid programs to assist residents with College costs. For the New England states, this grant is portable and may be received at Maine College of Art even if the student is from another state. Grant amounts vary and each state program has its own formula and deadline. States determine their own recipients and notify both the student and the College. These awards are often made separately from the College's award letter and, as a result, revisions to the financial aid package may be required.
To apply for a state grant students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid and any other state specific forms. You should contact your state higher education agency to confirm their grant application requirements and deadlines.
MECA is pleased to provide students with this financial aid calculator as a guide in planning for college. The calculator will estimate financial need and merit awards based on prior year data. Estimates are based on award policies for the 2012 - 2013 academic year and are subject to change.
- Your estimate is meant to help you plan your educational financing at the college and is based on the information you provide in this calculator.
- This calculator is intended for first-time, full time, degree-seeking freshmen who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
- Please remember that this estimate does not represent a finaldetermination, or actual award, of admissibility, financial assistance or a final net price; estimates are based on cost of attendance and financial aid provided to students in 2012-2013. This estimate shall not be binding. Price of attendance and financial aid eligibility change from year to year.
- Be sure to complete the required admissions and financial aid materials, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to determine your final eligibility for federal grants, loans, or work-study.
- If your family has special circumstances, please contact the Office of Financial Aid after submitting your FAFSA for an individual review of your award.
- We are pleased to be able to offer funding to our students. For our full-time students enrolling for college for the first time in 2011, 100% received grant or scholarship aid.
For more information on applying for federal student aid, go to http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
MECA Grant
A College sponsored grant program from which funding is provided based upon a student's financial need, academic standing, and strength of portfolio.
MECA Full Scholarship
Each year, one full-tuition MECA scholarship will be awarded to a high school applicant demonstrating exceptional artistic and academic excellence. To qualify, students must complete the application process for undergraduate admissions by February 1 and submit their portfolio for review.
2012-2013 Full Scholarship Form
Portland Area School Scholarship
Graduates of selected local high schools who qualify for admission to MECA will receive a guaranteed $12,000 scholarship each year for four years or until they complete the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, provided they maintain good academic standing. This scholarship is open to any graduate of the selected high schools, regardless of when they graduated or if they are transferring from another institution.
Selected schools include: Cape Elizabeth High School, Casco Bay High School, Catherine McCauley High School, Cheverus High School, Deering High School, Falmouth High School, Gorham High School, Greater Portland Christian Academy, Greely High School, North Yarmouth Academy, Portland Arts & Technology High School, Portland High School, Scarborough High School, South Portland High School, Waynflete, Westbrook High School, Windham High School, and Yarmouth High School.
National Scholastic Art Awards
Up to two half-tuition scholarships are awarded each year through the National Scholastic Art Awards. These scholarships are renewed annually for up to four years providing the recipients maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. For more information, please contact Scholastics, Inc., 730 Broadway, New York, NY 10003.
Merit Competition Scholarships
The Merit Competition is held in the Spring for the following academic year and is open to students who will be juniors and seniors in the next year. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 to enter the competition.Information regarding the competition is mailed to all eligible students at the start of the Spring semester. There are three categories of awarding. Details about the awards are available in the College's catalogue.
Endowed/Restricted Scholarships
All Endowed/Restricted Scholarships derived from Maine College of Art funding are awarded on the basis of merit upon the recommendation of the faculty. These scholarships are reserved for students returning to Maine College of Art for a second year or more. First-time students at the College are not eligible to be considered for these funds. A complete list of these scholarships with descriptions of the eligibility requirements is available in the College's catalogue.
Veterans Benefits
The Veterans Administration (VA), Reserves, and Armed Forces offer a variety of educational benefits primarily in grant form. Proper affiliation with the respective organization is required. Maine College of Art is a participating institution for military personnel, veterans, and their eligible dependents.
Private Funding
The Financial Aid Office strongly suggests that students research and apply for any private funding sources for which they may be eligible. There are a number of organizations which will provide scholarship search services free or for a nominal fee. Check with your state department of education, your high school guidance office, or the public library in your area. You may also find scholarship information using the Internet. One such site is www.finaid.org . We recommend using extreme caution when using search services that require a fee or when releasing personal information via the Internet.
Eligibility
To be eligible for financial aid you must:
+Submit a FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.
+Have a high school diploma or GED.
+Have a social security number (except for students from the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or Palau).
+Be enrolled at least on a half-time basis in an eligible program leading to a degree or certificate.
+Be a U.S. Citizen, national, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen.
+Not be in default on a Stafford, Perkins, or Plus loan from any institution.
+Not owe a repayment on PELL, SEOG, or SSIG grants from any institution.
+Be registered with the Selective Service, males only
Application Procedure
Students wishing to be considered for financial aid at Maine College of Art must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA release form [PDF]
One third of all students are randomly selected for verification by the government. If selected you will need to submit additional documentation to the Financial Aid Office before eligibility can be determined.
Appealing Your Award
Sometimes a family’s circumstances change after the initial application is made. Maine College of Art's Financial Aid Office will make every effort to review your requests for reconsideration of your aid award based on economic changes and family changes in circumstance.
If such situations apply to your family, you or your parents may submit a letter of appeal to our office specifically stating that you are requesting a review of your file and the reason for the review. Please give specific information and documentation so that we are as informed as possible when we perform the review. You would also need to complete the verification process even if not selected.
FAFSA release form [PDF]