The community at Maine College of Art & Design is as diverse and unique as each individual artist within it — each student adds immeasurably to the vibrancy of the College. We invite applications from students who will contribute to the diversity of our student body, including traditional high school applicants, transfers, non-traditional and international students, and veterans.
Any student graduating from high school or earning the equivalency may apply for admission to MECA&D's Bachelor of Fine Arts program. If you are currently enrolled at another college, are not presently in school, or are working full-time, you are welcome to apply to join our thriving community.
Applications are evaluated individually, with special consideration given to the strength of the portfolio and academic achievement. Every applicant is considered for merit-based scholarships upon acceptance into the College.
Final applications for Fall 2021 entry will be accepted as space is available.
Because the 2021 Common App cycle closed in July, please fill out the 2022 Common App here and send us a quick note at admissions@meca.edu to let us know you'd like to apply for Fall 2021.
Fall 2021 semester classes begin on August 30, 2021. Move-in and Orientation begin on Thursday, August 26, 2021.
Applications for Spring 2022 entry are now open on the Common App. See full application details below.
Priority Application Deadline: November 15, 2021
Applications received after November 15, 2021 will be reviewed as space is available in the Spring class.
Move-in and Orientation will take place January 16, 2022, and Spring semester classes begin on January 19, 2022.
Applications for Fall 2022 entry are now open on the Common App. See full application details below.
Early Action Deadline: December 1, 2021
Full Tuition Scholarship Deadline: February 1, 2022
Priority Application Deadline: March 1, 2022
Applications received after May 1, 2022 will be reviewed as space is available in the Fall class.
To apply for admission as a full- or part-time Bachelor of Fine Arts degree-seeking student, the following items must be submitted.
Please note that we do not consider SAT or ACT scores when evaluating applications.
We accept applications for first year students and transfer students online through Common App. Begin or complete your application here: MECA&D on Common App
The application fee is $70. The application fee is payable by credit card on the Common Application and is non-refundable.
To request a Common App fee waiver, please see the options listed in the Common App Fee Waiver section, which can be found under Profile, then Personal Information.
Please write 500 words answering the questions Why art, why MECA&D? or follow the essay prompts on the Common App. Your essay can be uploaded directly to the Common App.
Your portfolio should consist of 15–20 pieces of recent artwork in any medium, created within the last 18 months. Three of these pieces should be observational — that is, drawn or created from direct observation, not from photographs or your imagination.
The work in your portfolio can be done in or outside the classroom, and you can use your portfolio to either show us a range of mediums or to focus on a particular subject or medium.
At least three (3) of these pieces need to represent your skills drawing from direct observation, like self-portraits, landscapes or cityscapes, still lives, or portraits of friends, family members, or pets. These drawings can be in charcoal, graphite, conté, colored pencil, digital paintings — the sky's the limit! We're looking to find out how you translate three-dimensional objects onto a two-dimensional plane. You can find out more about our portfolio requirements by downloading our portfolio brochure.
Please submit your portfolio via SlideRoom and/or your own website. We strongly recommend including the following information for each piece: date, dimensions, medium(s), description of concept or inspiration, and, for drawings (physical or digital), the time spent on each drawing — it's helpful to know if a drawing is a quick two-minute sketch or done over several three-hour sessions.
For a tutorial on photographing work at home, watch the following video for tips on lighting, framing your photograph, and cropping here.
Applicants can request transcripts to be sent to the Admissions Office through their guidance counselors or other official representative. Transcripts will be considered official if they are sent by the issuing institution through the Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse Transcript Service, or if they arrive to MECA&D in an envelope that is stamped and sealed by the issuing institution.
Applicants may also opt to send an official scored report of the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) or High School Equivalency Test (HiSET).
Please note that we strongly prefer receiving transcripts digitally through Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse. If they must be mailed, please send them to:
Maine College of Art & Design
Attn: Undergraduate Admissions
522 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
Applicants can request transcripts to be sent to the Admissions Office through their guidance counselors or other official representative. Transcripts will be considered official if they are sent by the issuing institution through the Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse Transcript Service, or if they arrive to MECA&D in an envelope that is stamped and sealed by the issuing institution.
We require transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, even if credit was not earned, in order to award you financial aid.
Please note that we strongly prefer receiving transcripts digitally through Common App, Parchment, SCIOR, or the National Student Clearinghouse. If they must be mailed, please send them to:
Maine College of Art & Design
Attn: Undergraduate Admissions
522 Congress Street
Portland, Maine 04101
Please note that if you have earned 60 credits or fewer, we will request an official copy of your high school transcripts in addition to any and all college transcripts.
Our preference is to receive these letters from art teachers, guidance counselors, current academic teachers, and/or employers. Letters from family members are not accepted. Please submit letters of recommendation through the Common Application.
Recommendations will be considered official when they are uploaded directly by the recommender to the Common Application, and we will also accept official recommendations through Parchment and SCIOR.
We encourage high school students applying as first time BFA students to complete their applications by December 1. All application requirements need to be fulfilled, including letters of recommendation and your high school transcripts. If you complete your application by December 1, we’ll send you a decision and your scholarship award (if applicable) before the new year (or we’ll be in touch by December 10 to ask for any supplemental materials we might need in order to render a decision). This decision is non-binding.
Maine College of Art & Design welcomes applications from international students. For more information on additional requirements and things to know, see here.
For information on how to transfer, credit evaluation and placement, scholarships, and additional application requirements, see here.
For more information on how previous students can re-admit to the college, the requirements and application, see here.
Financial aid and merit-based scholarships are available, and 100% of our students receive financial assistance in the form of federal and/or state aid, grants, and/or scholarships. If you plan to apply for need-based aid, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), if you have not already done so. The application is available online here and opens annually on October 1 for the following academic year.
If you have questions about applying for financial aid, please see this page or contact the Office of Financial Aid by email at finaid@meca.edu or by phone at 207.699.5073 or 207.699.5074. Maine College of Art & Design’s FAFSA code is 011673.
Maine College of Art & Design does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, physical disability, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs. MECA&D admits qualified individuals without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, physical disability, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin, to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.
If you have any additional questions, please contact the MECA&D Admissions Office at admissions@meca.edu or 800.699.1509.
