Scholarships

Scholarships for Incoming Students

Scholarships are based on both financial need and talent. They will be awarded based on a review of portfolios as well as an assessment of your high school transcripts, references, and financial need.

Scholarships are given for the first two years at Wright State, up to $3,000 per year. After the initial two-year period, you will be eligible for the art department’s talent scholarships for continuing students.

Eligibility

• You must be an incoming student (not a transfer student).
• You must remain an art major; the scholarship will be rescinded if you choose to major in another area.

How to Apply

Download and complete the Incoming scholarship application. You will need to provide two references with contact information who can speak to your artistic accomplishments and a high school transcript. Submit a portfolio, either digitally or in person to the art department, consisting of a maximum of 20 works. No more than 10 pieces should be in any one medium.

Submitting the application and portfolio electronically:

• Download the application and submission guidelines below. Follow the directions for sizing and labeling your images. Complete the application form and inventory sheet and email all materials, including high school transcript, to art_arthistory@wright.edu. You can send your materials in multiple emails if needed.
• All materials must be emailed before midnight March 6, 2024.

Submitting the application and portfolio to the art department:

• Deliver a portfolio (consisting of a maximum of 20 works, no more than 10 in any one medium); a list of two references with contact information who can speak to your artistic accomplishments; and a high school transcript to the art department office.
• All works in the portfolio should be clearly labeled on the back with your name, address, and phone number. While original works are preferred, you have the option of turning in unframed originals or digital files (in jpg or pdf format) on a thumb drive.
• Portfolio and application materials can be dropped off Monday, February 19th to Wednesday, March 6, 2024, between 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. at the School of Fine and Performing Arts office in the Creative Arts Center in 088 CAC. The portfolio must be clearly labeled with your name, address, and phone number.

ArtsGala Scholarship Application for Incoming Students (PDF)

Electronic Submission Guidelines (PDF)

Any questions? Call Tracy Longley-Cook, Art Professor, at 937-775-3547.

Scholarships for Continuing Studio Art Majors and Art History Majors

The School of Fine and Performing Arts will award a limited number of Special Talent Scholarships to both full-time and part-time continuing studio majors and art history majors who will be enrolled during the Fall and Spring semesters of 2024–2025. If you are a B.F.A. or B.A. candidate who has a minimum of 12 hours within the department, you are eligible to apply. Your total number of hours includes those courses for which you are enrolled for Spring Semester.

You are strongly encouraged to fill out a FASFA each year, even if you believe you don’t qualify for financial aid. It may open avenues to other scholarship opportunities but does not disqualify you if you don’t apply. 

Studio majors and art history majors may receive a total of five special talent scholarship awards during their matriculation toward a degree, To be eligible to re-apply for a scholarship, B.F.A. and B.A. candidates must complete a minimum number of credits in the department during the ensuing year(s). Following the spring semester of your special talent award, scholarship recipients must earn a minimum of 12 credit hours in studio art in the Department of Art and Art History, including credit hours for courses in progress (Spring Semester) at the time of your next portfolio review application.

For studio art majors, portfolios may include a maximum of 20 works, with no more than 10 in any of the following media: drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and photography. Slides or digital images may represent sculptures. Only work done since the last scholarship portfolio review is eligible. Only work done while at Wright State is eligible.

Art history majors may submit 2 art history papers with comments and grades in person to the SoFPA office, or email to art_arthistory@wright.edu along with a completed art history scholarship application.

Register and pick up a scholarship application and directions in the School of Fine and Performing Arts office (088 Creative Arts Center) from February 3–March 10, 2025. Portfolio drop-off and jurying will take place on Friday, March 14. You can pick up your portfolio by 2 p.m. that afternoon. 

• Continuing Art History Scholarship Application (PDF)
• Continuing Studio Art Scholarship Application (PDF)

The School of Fine and Performing Arts offers an array of scholarships based on talent, academic performance, and financial need. For first-year students, the audition will determine qualification for a scholarship.

School scholarships include:

• The Tom Hanks Scholarship

• The Augsburger/Estevez Scholarship created by Martin Sheen

• The Theatre Arts Talent Scholarship

• The Rising Star Scholarship

Talent scholarships are awarded for one year to students in acting, dance, motion picture production, and design/technology. Students in all majors are eligible to apply each year for merit scholarships. Although competition for scholarships is keen, the school provides generous support to qualified students throughout their four years of study to enable them to complete their degree.

As a music student, several sources of financial aid are available to you.

Scholarships

Music scholarships are awarded initially on the basis of two criteria: (1) excellence in an applied music audition, and (2) demonstration of individual potential to develop performance skills. These scholarships are not based on need but are primarily talent-based. Auditions for continuing students are held each spring for the following academic year

Music scholarships may be renewed each semester for up to four years. Scholarships range from $500 a year to full tuition. Less than 1/3 of all music students are on music scholarships. Please contact the School of Fine and Performing Arts at 937-775-2346 for more information.

Requirements

Academic Requirements

Every semester the student must:

• Earn an A or a B in applied music and in the assigned major music ensemble
• Not earn an X in any required music course
• By the end of the first year of full-time enrollment at Wright State, the freshman or transfer student must have earned a cumulative (all courses) GPA of 2.5 or better.
• After the first year or 45 credit hours, the student must continue to earn a quarterly GPA (all courses) of 2.5 or better.
• Transfer students must meet the same criteria of 2.5 by the end of their first year or completion of 45 credit hours at Wright State.

Applied Music Requirements

The student must study applied music for 2 or 4 credits per semester in the applied music area which awarded the scholarship until degree requirements have been met (an exception to this requirement may be made during the semester of student teaching for music education majors).

The student must progress satisfactorily in applied music (no retentions). In extraordinary circumstances, the Applied Board, which awarded a scholarship, may grant an exception to this policy.

• ARTSGALA Scholarships
  ARTSGALA Scholarships are special scholarships given to the School of Fine and Performing Arts. Funding comes from a special event held in late March or early April of each year called the ARTSGALA. These departments help organize and prepare, as well as perform, at this fundraising event in the CAC.
  
  Students must qualify for this scholarship by filing a FAFSA form, qualifying for financial need, be recommended by the faculty for superior performance ability, and their permanent residence must be in the Dayton area. These scholarships are very prestigious and the students chosen receive publicity exposure at the ARTSGALA. The recipients are required to have a publicity photograph taken, at the School’s expense, and to write a one-page biography for publicity by local media. These selected recipients are also expected to help prepare for, perform at, and be visible during the ARTSGALA.
• University Scholarships
  University scholarships are available from the university. Criteria vary with each award. Visit the Loans, Scholarships, and Grants page on the Enrollment Services (RaiderConnect) website for more information.
• Music Scholarships
  The Music Program awards a number of special scholarships each academic year. These scholarships have been funded by a number of donors and patrons. Criteria and application process varies by scholarship.

Students Transferring to Wright State

The School of Fine and Performing Arts cannot offer music talent scholarships to transfer students without a signed release from the current institution.
NASM Code of Ethics Article IV, section 3 (DOCX) articulates this accreditation ruling. Please see the School of Fine and Performing Arts chair if you have questions.

Grants and Loans

• Ohio Instructional Grant
• Basic Educational Opportunity Grant
• National Direct Student Loan Program

Applications need to be filed with the appropriate agency. Enrollment Services (RaiderConnect) will supply the necessary forms and assist in their completion.

Community Music Division Program

Community Music Division (CMD) is a program in the Music Program that allows music students and faculty to teach non-credit, applied music lessons in the Creative Arts Center. Those teaching these classes are compensated financially. For more information on teaching CMD classes, contact the School of Fine and Performing Arts at 937-775-2346

NOTE: Anyone teaching lessons for a fee on Wright State property, whether in the CAC or not, must go through the CMD program. Failure to do so is in violation of state law and constitutes a criminal offense.

Other Sources

A variety of non-Wright State financial aid resources are available to qualifying students. Although the agencies that provide these resources are not affiliated with Wright State or the School of Fine and Performing Arts and although Wright State is in no way responsible for any information given by these agencies, prospective students might consider exploring these resources.

MusicScholarships.US provides information on music scholarships, grants, competitions and awards resources for students preparing for a career in music. Their database of public and private music scholarships and competition awards for undergraduate/graduate school is regularly updated.