FINANCIAL AID
Grants are awards based on financial need and do not require employment. Loans are awards that require repayment after the student leaves VCU. Work study is a part-time employment, usually on campus. 

All students are encouraged to apply for financial aid. For consideration for the maximum amount of financial eligibility, students must ensure that they apply for financial aid before the deadline of April 15.

For more information, visit VCU Financial Aid online, or call 804.VCU.MONY.

TUITION AND FEES
All full-time undergraduate Arts majors pay a fee of $265.00/semester; full-time graduate Arts majors pay $490.00/semester. The "Art Major Fee" is used by the School of the Arts and by individual departments for general operations. These funds provide support for such operational expenses as:

• wages for part-time faculty and specialized technicians and staff
• maintenance of the School’s visual resource library and the acquisition of 10,000 slides annually
• the Computer Center and upgrades to labs and visualization software license fees
• the School’s wood shop
• the Graphics Lab
• operation of the performing arts stages and rehearsal spaces including the Grace Street Theatre
• security systems and security guards
• costs related to accreditation

Each department offers classes that require enrolled students to pay a "Course Materials Fee" - these fees go toward equipment, materials and services (i.e. figure models, studio/shop/computer equipment, security for after-hours studio access, etc.). Course fees vary from $30/course to $100/course. For more detailed information, visit the Student Accounting website.

Art supply costs vary for each student, we recommend budgeting $1500 in supply costs per semester.

Here are a few quick links to specific bits of information:

VCU Tuition and Fees calculator
General Description of University Fees
Information about Residency Status
Course Related Fees/School of the Arts Fees

STUDENT EQUIPMENT
Virginia Commonwealth University's Student Computer Initiative requires all incoming students to own a computer that meets the University's minimum standards. To view the University's standards, click here. Keep in mind that many departments in the School of the Arts have specific requirements in addition to the University's requirements.

Performing Arts Computer Requirements
Performing Arts students must have a computer that meets the University's  minimum requirements. Dance and Choreography students must have a PC using the Windows operating system. Music and Theatre students may have either a Mac or a PC.

Visual Arts Computer Requirements
Hardware:  If you have been accepted in our Art Foundation Program as an incoming freshman, you should consider which of the following three options would be best for you.

Option 1 - If you already own a computer that meets the Art Foundation Program's minimum requirements, we encourage you to bring that computer for use during your Art Foundation year.

Option 2 - If you do not already own a computer that meets the University's or the Art Foundation Program's minimum requirements, we encourage you to learn more about the VCUarts Computer Rental Program (click here).  Renting a computer for your Art Foundation year will postpone  the need for you to make a new computer purchase until your sophomore  year, when you have entered a major department in the School of the Arts.  If you would
like to learn more about the rental option, please e-mail arthelp@vcu.edu, call us toll free at
(866)-534-3201.

Option 3 - You may choose to purchase either a new PC or MAC system, or you may be interested in upgrading the PC or MAC unit that you already own to meet the Art Foundation Program's minimum computer requirements.

Software: Software required by the Art Foundation Program includes Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator, all of which  can be used on either a Macintosh or PC platform.  Major departments have  varying software requirements. Computers leased through the VCUarts Computer Rental Program will have the Art Foundation Program's required software already installed.

Data Storage: USB Memory Key.

Transfer Students (Sophomores, Juniors)
Please be aware that some of the departments may have computer requirements that exceed the University's suggested computer requirements. Please check with the department that you will be entering regarding their specific computer recommendations.