By Elizabeth LaScala, PhD
Just like an undergraduate degree, postgraduate degrees come at a cost. Here, I’ll talk about some ways to finance your MFA. If you want to think outside the box, consider thinking outside the US! I include some affordable international art schools in the sidebar.
International Art Schools:
You can get a valuable education outside of the US and often at a fraction of the cost. I’ve provided a selection of highly regarded art schools that offer MFAs and conduct their teaching in English. Please note that this is by no means a definitive list! Instead, this is a jumping off point to help you see what else is out there.
RMIT School of Art
- Where: Melbourne, Australia
- Cost: ~$23,000 per year
University of the Arts London
- Where: London, United Kingdom
- Cost: ~$41,000 to per year (standard rate)
Whitecliffe College
- Where: Auckland, New Zealand
- Cost: ~$16,000 per year
Michaelis School of Fine Art
- Where: Cape Town, South Africa
- Cost: ~$2,000 per year (I’m not joking)
Big names, big costs, specific advantages
Some of the best art schools in the country come with an enormous price tag. According to U.S. News & World Report 2025 rankings, the top three are UCLA (#1), with Yale and School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) tied for the #2 spot. These rankings are based on a 2020 peer survey and remain the most recent results.
Tuition for these premier programs reflects their status: UCLA costs over $36,000 for non-residents (over $21,000 for residents), Yale costs over $48,000, and SAIC is close to $58,000. Meanwhile, Columbia University’s School of the Arts (ranked #10) charges almost a whopping $75,000 per year.
With the price so high, you have to weigh what your goals are and what you’ll get from a program. Do you see yourself teaching at a prestigious university? In this case, attending a prestigious university will help you towards that goal. Does your art rely on intense collaboration in a diverse urban environment? If so, you may want to shell out for a program in New York, LA, or Chicago. Are you really after the two years of time to dedicate to your craft? If this is the case, a cheaper and/or more rural option may suffice.
Financial aid packages and teaching assistantships
Depending on your skill, your school, and your need, you may be awarded a financial aid package. In an ideal world, that package would include tuition and a stipend as well as a small materials grants. However, this luxury is usually reserved for a select few with exceptional portfolios.
In exchange for full or partial tuition, you may be offered a teaching assistantship (TA). Teaching assistantships require a lot your time and energy, but they can be particularly helpful for those wanting to stay in academia—after all, you gain 2-3 years of teaching experience. However, if you are not interested in an academic post, this option may not be in your best interest as TA responsibilities will take time away from developing your craft.
Alternative study structure
Another way around the costs is to consider an alternative study structure. For example, SAIC’s low-residency MFA spans seven semesters and 60 credits, blending remote study with three mandatory six-week summer residencies on campus in Chicago. During spring and fall, students stay in their home studios and engage in asynchronous online coursework, with art history/theory seminars, critiques, professional practice modules, and one-on-one advising. Each summer immersion is full-time and includes weekly studio seminars, faculty and visiting artist critiques, professional development courses, and public lectures—the kind of concentrated experience that brings students deeply into their craft and the art community.
Prizes, awards, grants, and fellowships
A simple google search will show the many prizes, awards, grants, and fellowships available to those in the arts. The school you attend will likely make these opportunities known to you. While it’s Herculean to stitch together full financial coverage using prizes and awards alone, they do help fill the gaps. Even if you can get by money-wise with what you have, it is always a good idea to apply for these. Any accolades you earn will look great on your resume and prove that your skill is recognized by others.
In case you missed it, see my article about “Four Reasons to Get Your MFA“.
International Art Schools:
You can get a valuable education outside of the US and often at a fraction of the cost. I’ve provided a selection of highly regarded art schools that offer MFAs and conduct their teaching in English. Please note that this is by no means a definitive list! Instead, this is a jumping off point to help you see what else is out there.
RMIT School of Art
- Where: Melbourne, Australia
- Cost: ~$23,000 per year
University of the Arts London
- Where: London, United Kingdom
- Cost: ~$41,000 to per year (standard rate)
Whitecliffe College
- Where: Auckland, New Zealand
- Cost: ~$16,000 per year
Michaelis School of Fine Art
- Where: Cape Town, South Africa
- Cost: ~$2,000 per year (I’m not joking)
