Application Notification and Next Steps

Applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision in writing as soon as possible after receipt of all application materials—usually, within three weeks, with the following exceptions. For Fall Early Action applicants, decisions will be released by January. For Fall Priority Date applicants, decisions will be released in March. Applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee's decision through the Applicant portal. An email will be sent when a decision has been released.

Student Health Information Form

The Student Health Information form must be returned to Admissions before Orientation. The form can be submitted via the Application Portal, email to admissions@artcenter.edu, by postal mail or in-person to the Admissions Office. The College requires a negative tuberculosis test with the health form.

Disability Accommodations

Upon being admitted to the College, any person who might require special accommodation should discuss their needs with Center for the Student Experience staff.

ArtCenter complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and state and local requirements regarding students and applicants with disabilities. Under these laws, no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participation in the services, programs and activities of the College. For further information about how ArtCenter is able to accommodate students with disabilities, please review the disability policy information contained in this handbook or contact the Center for the Student Experience office at 626 396-2323.

Tuition deposit

To accept your offer of Admission, submit the Reply Form with your nonrefundable deposit. Credit and debit card payments are accepted in the payment form. The completed reply form, along with a $300 (undergraduate programs) or $400 (graduate programs) nonrefundable and nontransferable tuition deposit, is required to hold your place in the class. Tuition deposits will be accepted until classes are full for each term. Note that acceptance does not in itself guarantee a place in the class: A student’s place in the class is not assured until the College has sent the student a written confirmation of receipt of the agreement and deposit.

The availability of space can change rapidly. Undergraduate students will be offered a place in the next available term if they have been accepted but no space is currently available, for all majors except the Entertainment Design program’s Concept Design and Animation track. 

Deferrals

Accepted applicants for undergraduate programs may defer their admission for one consecutive term following their acceptance (provided there is room) with the exception of students admitted to the Entertainment Design program’s Concept and Animation tracks in the Spring term.

The tuition deposit will apply only to the term of original acceptance; only the acceptance, not the deposit, can be carried over. A new deposit is required for the subsequent term and is nonrefundable. Financial aid and scholarships are not deferred but are reviewed for the new term of entry.

Deferrals of admission are not possible for graduate programs except by special permission from the department. Financial aid and scholarships cannot be deferred.

Reviewing your Financial Aid offer

If you have applied for scholarship or financial aid, you will receive an email notifying you when your Financial Aid Offer is ready to view online in your Financial Aid Dashboard. You will need to log in to Inside ArtCenter with your username and password to access this information.

Financial Aid Offer notification is sent separately from your decision notification. They will typically begin going out in early April for the Fall term, mid-November for the Spring term, and early March for the Summer term. After these initial dates, Financial Aid Offers will go out on a rolling basis, typically within 3 weeks of an applicant’s acceptance and/or receiving an applicant’s completed FAFSA if required. Early Action applicants for the Fall term will typically receive notification by mid-January.

We recommend that you review your Financial Aid Offer prior to making your nonrefundable tuition deposit. You can also review A Guide to Your Financial Aid, which explains ArtCenter Scholarship and Grant Policies and other important information.

Final and Official Transcripts

If you provided unofficial copies of your transcripts as a part of your application, then your acceptance is contingent upon receipt of official transcripts with high school graduation date, which must be received one week prior to the start of your first term at ArtCenter. Submit official transcripts to the Admissions Department in a sealed official envelope sent directly from each institution you have attended, or electronically via secure electronic transcript service like Naviance, Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse, Scribbles, or eTranscript.

International Students Applying for an F-1 Visa

International students will be required to show financial means for two semesters of tuition and fees and three semesters of living costs. This is required by the U.S. government in order to study on an F-1 visa. The amount can be covered through bank statements and any scholarship support received.

Once you receive your login information to ArtCenter’s student portal, you can submit your documents online.

Your I-20 document, necessary to apply for the F-1 visa, will be issued no more than six months before the term begins. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing.

Veterans

Veterans should contact the Financial Aid Office at 626 396-2215 or finaid@artcenter.edu for information.

Rescind Offer of Admission

ArtCenter, at its discretion, reserves the right to rescind an offer of admission if any information contained in the Admission Application is found to be incomplete, inaccurate, or misleading, if subsequent information leads to serious concerns, or if any submitted documents, materials, or test scores are inaccurate or are the result of wrongful or fraudulent activity. Violation of this Policy may result in rescinding an offer of admission, expulsion after enrollment, and retraction of degrees awarded.