Pre-College

Our in-person Pre-College is open to students who have completed their sophomore, junior or senior years of high school. Students customize their individual Pre-College program by choosing two majors from the following media:

• Animation
• Illustration: Comics + Graphic Novels
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Ceramics
• Fashion + Textile Design
• Metalsmithing + Jewelry
• Black + White Photography

Each major is given equal time. All students take a figure drawing class (in-person only).

*Please note: Our major choices have been reduced for Pre-College 2021 to accommodate COVID-19 social distancing regulations.

Below are the available majors for 2021:

• Animation
• Illustration: Comics + Graphic Novels
• Painting
• Printmaking

Starting in July 2021, MECA is now also offering an Online Pre-College option.
Choose one or both of the following majors. Both majors are complimented with an online drawing class. Tuition: $1,200 ($2,400 for both majors)

• Animation
• Illustration: Comics + Graphic Novel

Each major is complemented with an online drawing class track. (If you choose both majors, however, only one drawing class track is offered.)

Each major is given equal time. All students take a figure drawing class.

Faculty

Pre-College faculty members include dedicated professionals who are practicing studio artists, instructors at Maine College of Art, and other faculty from institutions across the nation. The education and experience of MECA’s instructors reflect the College’s national reputation, its dedication to a solid studio foundation and the strength of its studio majors.

Pre-College Portfolio Scholarship

Maine College of Art offers a merit scholarship of $1,500 for all in-person Pre-College participants who are accepted to MECA’s BFA program. All Pre-College students are invited to participate in the Pre-College Portfolio Day, which is held during the last week of the program. Recent high school or personal work may be included. In addition, all participants will receive an application fee waiver to MECA’s BFA Program.

2021 Program Dates

July 4-24, 2021.

2021 Application Deadline

Priority Deadline: February 1, 2021 
General Deadline: April 15, 2021

Certain majors fill up quickly. Admitted students whose applications are postmarked by February 1, 2021, will have a better opportunity of getting their major(s) of choice and will be given priority consideration for need-based financial aid.

Following the February 1 Priority Deadline, preference will be given to applications received by April 15, 2021, or until the program reaches maximum capacity. Need-based financial aid (in-person Pre-College only) will continue to be awarded as funds remain available.