Need-Based Endowment Scholarships
General Information
On July 28, 2020, the CalArts Board of Trustees approved a resolution to increase endowment spending due to the extraordinary circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the additional funds to be allocated toward need-based scholarships, and with a specific focus on expanding the Institute’s commitment to representational diversity among our students. The resolution states, “The funds shall be used to support students in need, with a preference for students with a diverse background who are underrepresented within the Institute.”
This decision by the Board has resulted in an additional $3.3 million of need-based scholarship funding to be awarded immediately for the 2020-2021 academic year, with ongoing commitment to funding in future years. The new scholarships will be allocated according to the following priorities:
- Provide supplemental need-based grants to underrepresented minority students with moderate to high unmet need.
- Provide supplemental need-based grants to all other domestic students in the highest range of unmet need.
- Provide additional funding for need-based tuition grant appeals, a process that is open to all enrolled students, including international students.
- Provide limited retention funds for each school, to be allocated in direct proportion to the percent of underrepresented minority students enrolled in their programs.
Definitions
For the purposes of awarding these scholarship funds, CalArts is using the following definitions:
Cost of Attendance (COA) is determined based on each student’s tuition and fees, plus the estimated costs of room and board, transportation, supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is calculated according to a formula defined by federal law, based on information submitted in the FAFSA (income, assets, benefits, family size, other family members in college, etc).
Need Based Grant (NBG) is institutional scholarship aid awarded as a one time or annual grant based on each student’s demonstrated financial need.
Underrepresented Minority (URM) is the term used to identify students whose racial or ethnic makeup is from one of the following: African American/Black; American Indian or Alaska Native; Latino/Hispanic; Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.
Unmet Need is determined by subtracting the following known resources from the student’s COA: federal, state, and institutional grant aid; federal subsidized loans; federal unsubsidized loans; and EFC.
Awarding Criteria
Under priorities #1 and #2, CalArts will meet the cost of tuition, after the EFC and all other federal, state, and institutional aid is applied, for domestic students who have completed a FAFSA, and who meet the following criteria:
- Underrepresented minority students who are on track to graduate this year, and who have unmet need of $25,000 or greater
- New and continuing students who identify as Black/African American or as Native American/Native Alaskan, and who have unmet need of $25,000 or greater
- All other underrepresented minority students who have unmet need of $35,000 or greater
- Students not identifying as underrepresented minority, who are on track to graduate this year, and who have unmet need of $40,000 or greater
- All other students with unmet need of $50,000 or greater
Students who do not fall into the criteria detailed above may pursue additional need-based funding through priorities #3 and #4:
- All enrolled students with financial need may submit an appeal for a Need-Based Tuition Grant by filling out this form. International students must also complete the CSS profile in order to be considered. These awards are allocated anonymously according to a rubric that takes into account each student’s demonstrated financial need and current institutional scholarship, with priority given to students closer to degree completion.
- Students may also discuss their scholarship requests with their school’s Financial Aid Liaison, who will then recommend students for increased awards out of their school retention funds. These funds are limited, and are intended to support students who may fall outside of the criteria listed above, or who may need support above and beyond other awards they are eligible to receive.
All students who enroll for the Fall 2020 semester will be considered for these additional grant funds, including newly entering students, and students returning from leave of absence, as long as funds are available. Priority will be given to students who are enrolled in an active degree program by Monday, Aug. 10.