Exclusive 2024 Graphic Design Scholarships

About graphic design scholarships

While painting, drawing, and other traditional mediums of art are popular in many high schools, digital art is a fast-growing industry that artistic students may be interested in. 

Many companies advertise through the creation of online content, and these images need to be designed by someone with an eye for color and aesthetics. Additionally, graphic designers are often consulted for company websites. Designers are invaluable in creating a visual branding strategy for companies.

What is a graphic design scholarship?

Graphic design scholarships are free financial aid packages that are offered to high school or college students interested in graphic design. 

This money is often intended to help aspiring graphic designers pay for college. Some graphic arts scholarships will stipulate that students must study graphic design if they receive the scholarship money. Even if an accredited college does not offer a graphic design major specifically, most general educational institutions will have a visual arts major or some equivalent. Other scholarships will not attach any rules to the scholarship as long as the student demonstrates an interest in graphic design. 

There are scholarships open to graphic design students of all grade levels and experience levels. High school students, undergraduate students, and graduate students will all be able to find relevant opportunities for them in the field of graphic design. 

Some graphic design scholarships may have specific rules that visual arts students must follow in order to apply. For example, scholarships may state that students must be in good academic standing and maintain a certain GPA. Although visual arts or graphic design majors in college may not need to take as many other subjects, such as math and English, being a good student overall is still important. 

A graphic design scholarship may be paid for by design companies to incentivize students to work in the graphic design industry. As more and more businesses move online, and online retail begins to overtake in-store retail, good design is becoming even more important.

Graphic designers work on anything from website designs to logos to product packaging, making sure each advertisement and product matches the company branding. The need for graphic designers is projected to increase by 3% from 2020 to 2030. 

A graphic design scholarship may be able to help graphic design majors expand their graphic arts skills with funding and even make connections in their industry. Some graphic design scholarships are funded by design companies or freelancers. Keeping in touch with the donors, if applicable to the scholarship you find, may allow you to get to know an established professional in the creative arts field. 

These scholarships are free to apply for and can be a good way for high school or college students to pay for an education in the visual arts. 

Can you get a scholarship for graphic design?

There are many opportunities available for students who are interested in graphic design. Not only are there scholarships for all kinds of art, but you can also seek out a graphics scholarship foundation to help fund your higher education journey. 

Students that are very invested in art and spend a lot of time practicing and developing their skills will likely have an edge in securing scholarships. Most donors tend to award scholarships to the most passionate or most talented students, so keep that in mind.

Some high school art programs offer graphic design classes as electives, which can help students get a feel for whether they might be interested in graphic design. In addition, starting as early as high school can help show your commitment to graphic design.

For students who have less experience in graphic design, don’t worry. The number of years spent learning about graphic design is not the only way you can show your passion and commitment to creative arts. You may also be able to find a scholarship for graphic design that is geared toward beginners in the field of visual arts.

Even students who begin learning graphic design later can put together a stunning portfolio, or write an enthusiastic essay on what graphic design means to them. Sheer talent and dedication are just as important as the length of time spent studying graphic design.

Be prepared to face a significant amount of competition when applying to a graphic design scholarship. There will likely be many aspiring graphic design students who intend to pay for college partly through scholarships, including some graduate students. This means that even though you and many other competitors may be qualified enough to win, not everyone will be able to receive scholarship money. 

As a result, graphic design students should make sure to maintain good academic standing, continuously practice their art skills, and keep applying for scholarships even if they don’t win money the first few times. 

How to apply for graphic design scholarships

Applying to graphic design scholarships is not as hard as you might think!

The first step is picking a method for finding scholarships. There are many online platforms like Bold.org that can make hundreds of scholarships available to students in one place. In addition, school resources like the high school guidance office or college financial aid office may be able to help students find scholarships for them. 

There are merits to each of these methods. Simply choose which one appeals to you most, or try finding scholarships through each of these avenues.

Online platforms will likely be able to connect students with more scholarships than a school office might. Guidance and financial aid counselors, however, may have access to a handful of exclusive scholarships not found online. In addition, school counselors may be able to provide more in-person support to students.

Most scholarships will ask for two things: some records and personal information, as well as a personal statement. In addition, since this is an art scholarship, a portfolio may be requested. Providing some personal information will likely be mandatory for every scholarship you apply to. Donors need to know your name, grade level, interests, and billing information or address. 

The personal statement depends on the scholarship. Not all scholarships will require students to write an essay. However, the scholarships that do include this portion of the application will require a thoughtful and personal response. 

The essay question is a way for the donor to get to know the student. In addition, the essay is where the applicant can explain why they should be the recipient of the scholarship money— instead of the other students that applied. 

As a result, graphic arts students need to demonstrate how much winning a graphic design scholarship would mean to them. Perhaps winning a scholarship might help them earn an undergraduate degree in visual arts, which is something that they have always been passionate about. Or, maybe receiving financial assistance would make it possible for them to attend the school of their dreams.

Whatever your answer, it’s important to show your dedication and talent for graphic design. 

In addition, every scholarship will ask a unique question. Some scholarships for graphic design might ask what students like about graphic design. Another possible question could be what students hope to do in the future with a degree in graphic arts. Though these two questions are similar, they are asking for different things. 

Remember to fully address the question the scholarship asked as opposed to talking about graphic design in general. Writing a unique essay for each scholarship you apply for is a good first step in applying to scholarships for graphic design . 

Given the focus of graphic design scholarships on artistic talent, some scholarships will ask you to submit some of your best work. High school and college art teachers can advise you on which pieces will best showcase your skills. Submitting a few different pieces that each reflect something different can be beneficial.

For example, submitting pieces that were each created using a different software program can help show that you are well-versed in several different mediums of graphic design. In addition, submitting mock advertisements along with portraits and landscapes can reveal the depth of your artistic knowledge. 

Finally, it's important to be yourself. If submitting a portfolio, choose works of art that reflect your personality and your talents. A genuine and honest answer is always best and helps the donors to understand what kind of person you are. 

How to get a graphic design scholarship

Applying to scholarships that are most relevant to your situation and needs can help increase your chances of getting a graphic design scholarship. This means making sure that you fit the requirement for the scholarship, and making sure you can answer the essay question in a meaningful way.

Some scholarships will stipulate that applicants must be from a certain state or region, maintain a certain GPA, or be a certain grade level. If you do not match all the requirements, do not apply. Only matching some or a few of the criteria means that scholarship will not be a good fit for you, and your application may not even be considered. 

Getting a graphic design scholarship involves talent, but also a bit of luck. Many eligible students will apply, including yourself. There may be several applicants that are equally qualified and equally deserving of scholarship money.

As a result, getting a graphic design scholarship means writing a good personal statement, submitting a cohesive portfolio, and also applying for a variety of scholarships. Continuously applying to different graphic design scholarships is the best way to increase your chances of getting a graphic design scholarship. 

Best graphic design scholarships

Graphic design scholarships for high school students

As soon as you're in high school and at least fourteen years old, you can begin applying for scholarships! Consider applying early to give yourself extra time to earn college funding.

1. Lionz Alliance – Florida Fine Arts Scholarship 
2. 1st Generation People Of Color Patrick Copney Memorial Music/Arts Scholarship

Scholarships for graphic design majors

Some scholarships are open to all students with a passion for graphic design, while others will require applicants to be pursuing a graphic design major. These scholarships will have fewer eligible applicants, giving you a better chance of winning!

1. Christian ‘Myles’ Pratt Foundation Fine Arts Scholarship
2. Endeavor Design Scholarship

Graphic design scholarships for international students

International students often have less access to financial aid than other students, making scholarships even more critical. The list below is a great place to start!

1. KBK Artworks Scholarship
2. Bold Art Matters Scholarship  

Frequently asked questions about graphic design scholarships

How to find graphic design scholarships

There are many ways to find a scholarship for graphic design. Your art teachers and professors may be able to connect you with local scholarships in your area. 

In addition, platforms like Bold.org allow students to filter their scholarship search results by major, grade level, and other factors. This can help narrow down your results and allow students to find scholarships for graphic design faster. 

Joining art clubs and artistic community organizations can also be a good way to find exclusive scholarships for graphic design that online platforms may not have access to. The more connections you have in the arts industry, the more opportunities you will have available to you. 

When can I start applying?

Students above the age of fourteen who are in high school or above can begin applying for scholarships whenever they want. 

Many scholarships allow students of any grade level to apply. There are also plenty of scholarships that only allow high school students to apply, as well as many scholarships that only allow college students to apply. 

There are enough opportunities for high school students as well as college students. No matter what grade you are in, you should have no trouble finding scholarships available to you. 

It’s most common to begin applying for scholarships as a high school senior, but high school juniors and even underclassmen may be able to find scholarships they are eligible for. 

Similarly, college students can and should continue to apply for scholarships throughout their educational careers. Undergraduate students, as well as graduate students, should be able to find many scholarships that meet their needs. 

There’s no right age to start applying for scholarships. Continuing to apply for scholarships throughout your time in high school and college can help increase your chances of winning money. 

Are scholarships counted as income?

Scholarships are not counted as income and will not be taxed as long as the scholarship money is used for qualified educational expenses. 

Any expense that your school requires of you to graduate, such as enrollment fees, class fees, or money for textbooks and supplies counts as a qualified educational expense. It’s important to note that housing and travel do not fall under this category even though they are school-related expenses. 

Lastly, a scholarship is free money awarded to a student. Money received as compensation for a service or labor is not a scholarship and counts as income.