Scholarships
In addition to need-based assistance from the state, federal government and Cornish College of the Arts, new applicants are eligible for a wide range of merit-based scholarships in all Cornish programs:
Art
Dance
Design
Music
Performance Production
Theater
In addition: scholarships are available for male dance majors and music majors.
Scholarships are awarded by the student’s department on the basis of artistic merit and by the College for both artistic merit and general academic achievement. Scholarships are renewable provided students meet all eligibility requirements.
How to apply for Scholarships
Institutional scholarships
The Nellie and President Scholarships are awarded by the Office of Financial Aid. Meeting the priority deadline of February 15th for filing the FAFSA are the prerequisites to qualify. These institutional scholarships have a need-based and a merit-based component. The Nellie Scholarship is awarded to new and transfer students only on the basis of their audition or portfolio review. The President Scholarship is awarded to current students only based on their cumulative GPA. Institutional Scholarships are not renewable. Students must re-apply each year and meet the priority deadline to be considered for institutional scholarships. Scholarships are awarded at an expected full-time enrollment per semester. If you are awarded and registered for less than 12 credit hours per semester, your scholarship funding from the institution will be pro-rated. These need and merit-based awards range from 10% to 25% of tuition.
Departmental scholarships
If you are a New or Transfer student to Cornish College of the Arts, you may be awarded a department scholarship from your prospective department, based on your audition or portfolio review. This scholarship award will be included in your Award letter. If you are a current student, you will need to contact your academic department for information on how to apply for department scholarships, meet the department guidelines, and be awarded a department scholarship. Department scholarships are merit-based for demonstrated artistic and/or academic excellence, and the recipients may need to meet additional donor-specific criteria for eligibility. These scholarship awards will be included in your Award Letter. Department scholarships are not renewable. Students must re-apply each year and meet the priority deadline to be considered for department scholarships. These merit awards range from 10% to 50% of tuition.
Outside scholarships
All outside scholarships are considered an additional financial resource and are coordinated with other types of financial aid. Please notify the Office of Financial Aid of any outside scholarships or grants you may be receiving that do not appear on your award letter. All AmeriCorps and Chapter13 V.A. benefit recipients must notify the Office of Financial Aid each semester of their benefits eligibility. Your Financial Aid Award Letter refers to these as outside scholarship. If you have more than one outside scholarship, their combined total will appear on the same line in your award letter. If your donor needs a statement of your account to disburse funds to the college on your behalf, please notify the Student Account Office in writing. Be sure to include your donor's billing address. *You may contact Cheryl Coatney in Student Affairs at ccoatney@cornish.edu for help in researching outside scholarships from private organizations.
Please note that Qualified Tuition Programs such as 529 plans or WA State's GET Guaranteed Education Tuition are no longer reported as a resource in the Student Award Letter. These are reported to the IRS as assets of the person in whose name it is filed.
Enter the Bank of America Financial Aid Sweepstakes for a chance to win a $1000 scholarship.