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 deadline for the FAFSA form is March 1.
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.
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.
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 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.
2011-2012 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
In general, to be eligible for financial aid you must:
- Submit a FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent, pass an independently administered exam approved by the U.S. Department of Education or complete a high school education in a home-school setting approved by your state.
- Have a social security number (except for students from the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia or Palau).
- Be enrolled on at least a half-time basis in an eligible program leading to a degree or certificate.
- Be a U.S. Citizen, national, permanent resident, or other eligible non-citizen.
- Not be in default on Stafford, Perkins, SLS or Plus loans at any institution.
- Not owe a repayment on PELL, SEDG, or SSIG grants at any institution.
- Be registered with the Selective Service, it is required by law to be registered.
International students enrolled in at least 6 credits per semester are eligible to apply for grant funding provided by the College. A limited number of awards are granted to international students who demonstrate financial need.
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).
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 our aid decisions 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 make our review.
FAFSA Release Form [PDF]