Category — Funding

All accepted graduate students at MECA who have filed their FAFSA forms are eligible for Merit Based Scholarships, MECA Grants, Endowed and Restricted Scholarships, Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, VA Benefits, and Work Study. The Financial Aid Office may be reached at 1-800-699-1509 for more information on any of these forms of support.

This year in the MFA the number of Merit-Based Presidential (6K) and Dean Scholarships (4K) given out has increased, as has the amount provided for MECA Grants. More internally-funded professional opportunities have been created for graduate students to help them cover the cost of their education and gain valuable work experience at the same time. Three new Teaching Assistantships and five new Research Assistantships, as well as an MFA Gallery Curator position have all been developed this year. New scholarship opportunities are being developed for 2010.

Student positions are applied for at the end of each summer through a competitive process that involves an application and, in the case of Teaching Assistants and MFA Mentors, a personal interview. Typically, student positions receive tuition remissions of $1,000 – $2,000 for approximately 140 hours of work over the winter and spring semesters. Students do not hold any positions during the summer semester at all. During the non-summer months, the MFA discourages students from working more than 20 hours a week – the workload is simply too much. Full-time teachers have completed the MFA while maintaining their jobs but this requires stamina and a high level of organization.

Our congratulations go out to all of the MFA students who have been recognized by the College for their excellent work and commitment to the MECA community. In 2009-2010 fifteen of our students hold Dean’s Scholarships, three students have been awarded the MFA President’s Award, two Cummings Scholarships and six restricted scholarships have been given out, as well as thirteen MFA Grants. The MFA employs its own students as teaching assistants, writing coaches, and studio mentors for the BFA program. We have also created positions for our students to work with us as web developers, outreach assistants, admission ambassadors, office assistants, technology coordinators, and archival assistants.

When submitting graduate applications, potential students are highly encouraged to prepare their FAFSA forms well in advance so that Financial Aid awards can be given out during the acceptance process. International students please note: the US Government requires additional forms to be completed for students living outside the USA. Please contact the admissions office at MECA should you have questions about these regulations.

Students who withdraw and receive Federal Financial Aid will be subject to return of Title IV funds and/or repayment of unearned aid as specified in 34 CFR 668.22. Maine College of Art uses the Return of Title IV Funds for Withdrawn Students on-line program designed by the US Department of Education to calculate the return and late disbursement of Title IV funds.