Maine College of Art & Design

Apply for first-year Apply for transfer

Maine College of Art & Design

Apply for first-year Apply for transfer

Located in the heart of the Portland Arts District, Maine College of Art & Design provides 24/7 access to its vibrant studios, classrooms, and state-of-the-art facilities to let students experiment with their work when passion strikes. With a 10:1 student to faculty ratio and deeply-rooted community partnerships, the College is dedicated to supporting every student’s ability to grow in their craft. This is the right-sized city and right-sized school for students to truly make their mark.

Our Artists at Work program is here to help translate your passions into a variety of career options. The Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA&D based in our Porteous Building serves a critical regional role in its commitment to presenting contemporary, provocative work by living artists from Maine and around the globe. MECA&D's Joanne Waxman Library is one of the largest independent libraries in Northern New England, and it offers the first and only materials collection in Maine.

Virtual Tour

Academic Programs

Design
Music
Art & Design
Visual Arts

Student experience

Co-op/Internship Opportunities
Disability Services
LGBTQIA Services
Military/Veteran Services
On-Campus Housing
Study Abroad
Distance/online learning
Exhibition opportunities

Application information

Find out about requirements, fees, and deadlines

First-year

Deadlines
Early Action: December 1, 2022
Full-Tuition Scholarship Competition: February 1, 2023
Priority Application: March 1, 2023
Rolling admissions as space is available after March 1, 2023.

Application Requirements
+ Complete Common App
+ Application Fee of $70 (or waiver)
+ Personal Essay
+ One (1) Letters of Recommendation
+ High School Transcripts (or equivalent)
+ Portfolio of 12–20 pieces of artwork

International students should also submit demonstration of English proficiency via IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE.

Transfer

Deadlines
Early Action: December 1, 2022
Priority Application: March 1, 2023
Rolling admissions as space is available after March 1, 2023.

Application Requirements
+ Complete Common App
+ Application Fee of $70 (or waiver)
+ Personal Essay
+ One (1) Letters of Recommendation
+ High School Transcripts (or equivalent)
+ Unofficial College Transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
+ Portfolio of 12–20 pieces of artwork

International students should also submit demonstration of English proficiency via IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE.

Additional Information

At Maine College of Art & Design 100% of our BFA degree students receive some type of financial assistance. Students at MECA&D 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.

Merit-based scholarships range from $10,000–$21,000 per year and are renewable each year you are at MECA&D.

Visit us

Schedule a visit to Maine College of Art & Design at meca.edu/visit!

Open Houses
MECA&D offers Open Houses throughout the Fall and Spring, typically on Saturdays. They are a great way to meet students, faculty, and staff and see the campus. For the 2022–2023 year, we have both in-person and virtual options available. Register for our events here.

Tours
Join us for a tour to explore all six floors of our main building which includes studio departments, major spaces, the MECA&D Cafe, Joanne Waxman Library, the Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA&D, and our two urban residence halls. Explore our virtual tours here.