APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2025 NOW OPEN

• LIMITED SPACE IS AVAILABLE

Fall 2025 Classes Begin on August 25, 2025

Your Journey Begins Here

At the New York Academy of Art, your application marks the start of a transformative, immersive journey into the heart of artistic mastery. As you move through the process, know that our supportive community is excited to witness your artistic growth and future success. We are committed to helping you navigate each step, from application to enrollment, and look forward to welcoming you into our distinguished group of alumni, where your creative achievements will be celebrated for years to come.

Before You Apply 

• Your one-time (non-refundable) Application Fee of $50 is due upon submission.  Your fee will be applied toward your $850 (non-refundable) tuition deposit if accepted.  

• Applicants to the MFA program must hold a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. For more details on degree equivalency, please see the Academy’s FAQs below or contact the admissions Office admissions@nyaa.edu.  

• Applicants to the MFA program apply for and are accepted into one of the Academy’s concentrations: Drawing, Painting or Sculpture. 

2025 Application Deadlines 

Applications for our Master of Fine Arts program are as follows: 

• Early Consideration Deadline: January 15 
  Submitting by this date gives priority to admission and scholarships.  
• Regular Decision Deadline: March 20
  Final date to submit your application. Early submission is highly recommended due to limited spaces. However, strong candidates may be considered after the deadline, depending on seat availability. If it’s past the deadline, please contact the admissions@nyaa.edu  to inquire about submitting a late application. 

Admission Notifications  

• Early Consideration Notifications: February 15 
  Applicants who applied by the early deadline will be notified of their admission status by this date.  

• Regular Decision Notifications: April 1 – April 15 
  Regular applicants will receive their admission decisions during this period.  

Waitlist Information   

• Ranked Waitlist: 
  Qualified applicants may be placed on a ranked waitlist if spaces are filled. The number of accepted students from the waitlist varies each year.  

Deposit Deadlines  

• Early Consideration Deposit Due: April 1 
  Your $850 non-refundable tuition deposit (minus the $50 application fee) is due by this date if accepted during Early Consideration.  

• Regular Decision Deposit Due: May 1 
  Regular Decision applicants must submit their $850 non-refundable tuition deposit (minus the $50 application fee) by this date to confirm enrollment.  

PAYING YOUR DEPOSIT WILL HOLD YOUR SPOT AND HELP YOU BEGIN YOUR ONBOARDING FOR FALL 2025.  

Art History Requirement Due: August 15

Applicants for the MFA must obtain proficiency in Art History before entering the program. For those with less than two semesters (less than two classes) of undergraduate level art history, an assignment will be required. This will help prepare you for entering the MFA program.

Orientation & Start of Classes: August 25

All incoming MFA students are required to attend the mandatory Student Orientation on this day. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet your peers, faculty, and staff, and get ready for the exciting semester ahead! 

Application Review  

Free Portfolio Review 

After submitting your application, the Faculty Committee will review your portfolio. We highly recommend you schedule a free portfolio review with Admissions before completing your submission. 

During the review you be able to learn more about the school and will have the additional opportunity to share information about yourself. Portfolio reviews are evaluative, and reports are shared with the Admissions Committee. Reviewers are not members of the Admissions Committee and do not have grading privileges. 

Throughout the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, all reviews will be conducted virtually via Zoom. However, you may specify that you want to meet in person and combine your review with a campus tour. 

The Academy’s Admissions Committee conducts a thorough, multi-step review of all applications. 

Portfolios undergo an initial blind evaluation by each committee member, assessed individually on key qualitative factors such as technical skill, formal awareness, and conceptual development. After this, the portfolios are re-evaluated alongside the candidate’s personal statement, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and other supporting materials (outlined below) during the comprehensive committee review. This holistic process ensures a balanced and fair assessment of each applicant’s artistic potential. 

Admissions Committee members use the rubric below that aligns with Thesis evaluation in assessing applications for both review cycles described above. 

Grade Scale

Pre-Enrollment Requirements

Pre-Enrollment (May-August):
Once you confirm your enrollment, it’s time to complete the following essential steps to ensure a smooth transition: arrange housing, submit final transcripts, and prepare for tuition payment.

FAFSA Submission:
If you are applying for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be sure to submit your application during the pre-enrollment period to prevent delays in processing your financial aid.

First Semester Tuition Due:
To secure your place in the program, the full payment of your first-semester tuition is due 30 days prior to the start of classes.

International Students – Visa Process:
International students may begin the student visa application process only after being accepted and submitting the non-refundable tuition deposit. NYAA will then provide the necessary documentation, including the I-20 form, required for the F-1 visa application. We recommend starting this process as early as possible to avoid any delays. The admissions office is available to assist with any visa-related questions.

Application Instructions

Applicants must create an account to access and complete the online application. Click here to begin your application.

Submit the following application materials through the online portal:

Application Form

Portfolio

Please submit no more than 20 images total consisting of:

• • Five (5) life drawings of the figure from observation in a traditional drawing medium such as charcoal, graphite, ink, etc. Please note that works in painting or sculpture mediums such as acrylic, oil and clay will not fulfill this requirement.
  • Fifteen (15) additional images of self-directed work in any medium.
  • You may submit up to two views of a single piece (one view per image). Please note the limit of 20 images total still applies.

Image files must be in .jpg format no more than 2500 pixels on the longest side.

The portfolio should represent your strongest work, indicate your major interest and direction, and demonstrate your technical skill and ability. All work should be from within the last three years. For those with unique circumstances wishing to submit images outside the three-year range, please contact admissions@nyaa.edu.

After uploading the portfolio, click on each image to add title, year, medium, dimensions and sequence order for viewing.

Personal Statement

A one-page statement of educational objectives and career goals indicating why you believe these will be advanced by study at the Academy. Applicants are encouraged to discuss work in the portfolio, an understanding of the Academy’s unique mission and indicate how study at the institution will progress individual artistic development and aspirations.

Artist CV or Resume

Submission of a CV or resume enhances the MFA application by giving more insight into a candidate’s creative experience. Please include educational background, professional experience, awards, residencies, exhibitions, etc. For more details on developing a CV or resume, please visit the College Art Association’s resource page.

References

Letters of recommendation from academic professionals are strongly recommended. After creating your application account, go to the references tab and enter the name and contact information for each individual providing a recommendation. Your references will automatically receive an email with submission instructions. Please contact your references to ensure timely submission of your recommendation by the application deadline. If you have any questions, please email admissions@nyaa.edu.

Transcripts

Certified official transcripts conveying an applicant’s academic history and proof of eligibility are required. Transcripts must be emailed or mailed from your previous school(s) to the Academy to be considered official. If you have attended more than one post-secondary institution, a transcript is required from each one.

The Academy accepts electronic transcripts! Please contact your previous institution(s) to have your e-transcript sent to admissions@nyaa.edu.

As many institutions do not issue e-transcripts, we also accept hardcopy. Please request transcripts be mailed from your previous institution to:

New York Academy of Art
ATTN: ADMISSIONS
111 Franklin Street
New York, NY 10013

International Students

International Students MUST submit certified true copies of academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended in the original language issued. If not English, applicants must submit an official evaluation from World Educational Services. www.wes.org

Bachelors Equivalent

For those applicants without a formal undergraduate degree, please contact the Admissions Office for more information on submitting proof of eligibility admissions@nyaa.edu

Art History Requirement

Applicants to the MFA are expected to obtain proficiency in Art History prior to entering the program. For those with less than two semesters (less than two classes) of undergraduate level art history, an assignment will be required. This will help prepare you for entering the MFA program.

Evidence of English Proficiency International Students Only

Those whose first language is not English must also demonstrate evidence of English proficiency by supplying a TOEFL or IELTS score. For more information on English proficiency requirements, please visit our International Students page.

Applying for Transfer of Credits

Applicants seeking to transfer credits should first review the Academy’s policy. The transfer of credit application form must be emailed to the Admissions Office admissions@nyaa.edu and submitted by the filing deadlines listed above. Please include the program to which you are applying in the body of the email. For questions regarding the application or policy, please contact the Registrar registrar@nyaa.edu.

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION TODAY! 

The New York Academy is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current student in accordance with the law. It is the policy of the Academy not to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, national or ethnic origin or any other protected category in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other Academy-sponsored programs and activities. 

Click here for details about our admissions statistics, acceptance rate and student body profile. 

APPLICATIONS FOR FALL 2025 NOW OPEN

• LIMITED SPACE IS AVAILABLE

Fall 2025 Classes Begin on August 25, 2025

Your Journey Begins Here

At the New York Academy of Art, your application marks the start of a transformative, immersive journey into the heart of artistic mastery. As you move through the process, know that our supportive community is excited to witness your artistic growth and future success. We are committed to helping you navigate each step, from application to enrollment, and look forward to welcoming you into our distinguished group of alumni, where your creative achievements will be celebrated for years to come.

Before You Apply 

• Your one-time (non-refundable) Application Fee of $50 is due upon submission.  Your fee will be applied toward your $850 (non-refundable) tuition deposit if accepted.  

• Applicants to the CFA program must hold a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. For more details on degree equivalency, please see the Academy’s FAQs below or contact the Admissions Office admissions@nyaa.edu.  

2025 Application Deadlines 

Applications for our Certificate of Fine Arts program are as follows: 

• Early Consideration Deadline: January 15 
  Submitting by this date gives priority to admission and scholarships.  
• Regular Decision Deadline: March 20
  Final date to submit your application. Early submission is highly recommended due to limited spaces. However, strong candidates may be considered after the deadline, depending on seat availability. If it’s past the deadline, please contact the admissions@nyaa.edu  to inquire about submitting a late application. 

Admission Notifications  

• Early Consideration Notifications: February 15 
  Applicants who applied by the early deadline will be notified of their admission status by this date.  

• Regular Decision Notifications: April 1 – April 15 
  Regular applicants will receive their admission decisions during this period.  

Waitlist Information   

• Ranked Waitlist: 
  Qualified applicants may be placed on a ranked waitlist if spaces are filled. The number of accepted students from the waitlist varies each year.  

Deposit Deadlines  

• Early Consideration Deposit Due: April 1 
  Your $850 non-refundable tuition deposit (minus the $50 application fee) is due by this date if accepted during Early Consideration.  

• Regular Decision Deposit Due: May 1 
  Regular Decision applicants must submit their $850 non-refundable tuition deposit (minus the $50 application fee) by this date to confirm enrollment.  

PAYING YOUR DEPOSIT WILL HOLD YOUR SPOT AND HELP YOU BEGIN YOUR ONBOARDING FOR FALL 2025.  

Orientation & Start of Classes

Orientation and classes begin on August 25, 2025! All incoming CFA students are required to attend the mandatory Student Orientation on this day. It’s the perfect opportunity to meet your peers, faculty, and staff, and get ready for the exciting semester ahead! 

Application Review  

Free Portfolio Review 

After submitting your application, the Faculty Committee will review your portfolio. We highly recommend you schedule a free portfolio review with Admissions before completing your submission. 

During the review you be able to learn more about the school and will have the additional opportunity to share information about yourself. Portfolio reviews are evaluative, and reports are shared with the Admissions Committee. Reviewers are not members of the Admissions Committee and do not have grading privileges. 

The Academy’s Admissions Committee conducts a thorough, multi-step review of all applications. 

Portfolios undergo an initial blind evaluation by each committee member, assessed individually on key qualitative factors such as technical skill, formal awareness, and conceptual development. After this, the portfolios are re-evaluated alongside the candidate’s personal statement, letters of recommendation, official transcripts, and other supporting materials (outlined below) during the comprehensive committee review. This holistic process ensures a balanced and fair assessment of each applicant’s artistic potential. 

Admissions Committee members use the rubric below that aligns with Thesis evaluation in assessing applications for both review cycles described above. 

Grade Scale

Pre-Enrollment Requirements

Pre-Enrollment (May-August):
Once you confirm your enrollment, it’s time to complete the following essential steps to ensure a smooth transition: arrange housing, submit final transcripts, and prepare for tuition payment.

FAFSA Submission:
If you are applying for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), be sure to submit your application during the pre-enrollment period to prevent delays in processing your financial aid.

First Semester Tuition Due:
To secure your place in the program, the full payment of your first-semester tuition is due 30 days prior to the start of classes.

International Students – Visa Process:
International students may begin the student visa application process only after being accepted and submitting the non-refundable tuition deposit. NYAA will then provide the necessary documentation, including the I-20 form, required for the F-1 visa application. We recommend starting this process as early as possible to avoid any delays. The admissions office is available to assist with any visa-related questions.

Application Instructions

Applicants must create an account to access and complete the online application. Click here to begin your application.

Submit the following application materials through the online portal:

Application Form

Portfolio

Please submit no more than 15 images total, consisting of:

• • Five (5) life drawings of the figure from observation in traditional drawing mediums such as charcoal, graphite, ink, etc. Note that works in painting or sculpture mediums like acrylic, oil, and clay will not fulfill this requirement.
  • Ten (10) additional images of self-directed work in any medium. You may submit up to two views of a single piece (one view per image), but the total must not exceed 15 images.

Image files must be in .jpg format no more than 2500 pixels on the longest side.

The portfolio should represent your strongest work, indicate your major interest and direction, and demonstrate your technical skill and ability. All work should be from within the last three years. For those with unique circumstances wishing to submit images outside the three-year range, please contact admissions@nyaa.edu.

After uploading the portfolio, click on each image to add title, year, medium, dimensions and sequence order for viewing.

Personal Statement

A one-page statement of educational objectives and career goals indicating why you believe these will be advanced by study at the Academy. Applicants are encouraged to discuss work in the portfolio, an understanding of the Academy’s unique mission and indicate how study at the institution will progress individual artistic development and aspirations.

Artist CV or Resume

Submission of a CV or resume enhances the MFA application by giving more insight into a candidate’s creative experience. Please include educational background, professional experience, awards, residencies, exhibitions, etc. For more details on developing a CV or resume, please visit the College Art Association’s resource page.

References

Letters of recommendation from academic professionals are strongly recommended. After creating your application account, go to the references tab and enter the name and contact information for each individual providing a recommendation. Your references will automatically receive an email with submission instructions. Please contact your references to ensure timely submission of your recommendation by the application deadline. If you have any questions, please email admissions@nyaa.edu.

Transcripts

Certified official transcripts conveying an applicant’s academic history and proof of eligibility are required. Transcripts must be emailed or mailed from your previous school(s) to the Academy to be considered official. If you have attended more than one post-secondary institution, a transcript is required from each one.

The Academy accepts electronic transcripts! Please contact your previous institution(s) to have your e-transcript sent to admissions@nyaa.edu.

As many institutions do not issue e-transcripts, we also accept hardcopy. Please request transcripts be mailed from your previous institution to:

New York Academy of Art
ATTN: ADMISSIONS
111 Franklin Street
New York, NY 10013

International Students

International Students MUST submit certified true copies of academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended in the original language issued. If not English, applicants must submit an official evaluation from World Educational Services. www.wes.org

Bachelors Equivalent

For those applicants without a formal undergraduate degree, please contact the Admissions Office for more information on submitting proof of eligibility admissions@nyaa.edu

Art History Requirement

Applicants to the MFA are expected to obtain proficiency in Art History prior to entering the program. For those with less than two semesters (less than two classes) of undergraduate level art history, an assignment will be required. This will help prepare you for entering the MFA program.

Evidence of English Proficiency International Students Only

Those whose first language is not English must also demonstrate evidence of English proficiency by supplying a TOEFL or IELTS score. For more information on English proficiency requirements, please visit our International Students page.

Applying for Transfer of Credits

Applicants seeking to transfer credits should first review the Academy’s policy. The transfer of credit application form must be emailed to the Admissions Office admissions@nyaa.edu and submitted by the filing deadlines listed above. Please include the program to which you are applying in the body of the email. For questions regarding the application or policy, please contact the Registrar registrar@nyaa.edu.

BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION TODAY! 

The New York Academy is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and equal treatment for every prospective and current student in accordance with the law. It is the policy of the Academy not to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, ancestry, national or ethnic origin or any other protected category in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other Academy-sponsored programs and activities. 

Click here for details about our admissions statistics, acceptance rate and student body profile. 

Before You Apply

Applicants must complete the Academy’s online Summer Undergraduate Residency Program application form. The program is open to current students in US and international institutions with a demonstrated ability in art. Applicants majoring in fields other than studio art are eligible to apply.

Acceptance to the Summer Residency is competitive. Applications are assessed by the Academy’s Admissions Committee through a multi-step review process. Portfolios are first evaluated in a blind review using the following qualitative measures: technical skill, formal awareness and conceptual development. The portfolios are evaluated again in conjunction with the candidate’s personal statement, letters of recommendation, official transcripts and other supporting documents.

*Tuition for SURP may be applied as remission for the Academy’s Certificate of Fine Art (CFA) or Master of Fine Art (MFA) tuition if the student is accepted into either the CFA or MFA programs.

2025 Application Deadlines

Applicants must submit their completed applications by the deadline listed below. The schedule for the annual admission cycle is as follows:

APPLY NOW!

Those seeking admission to the Academy’s CFA program must complete an online application. The application is FREE. Please see the list of instructions below.

Application Instructions

Applicants are required to complete and submit the following through the online application form by the deadline listed above. The application is FREE. Click here to begin your application.

Online application form

Please click here to create your account and begin your application.

Portfolio

Please submit 6 to 15 images of your work. Image files must be in .jpg format no more than 2500 pixels on the longest side.

The portfolio should represent your strongest work, indicate your major interest and direction, and demonstrate your technical skill and ability. All work should be from within the last three years. Those submitting images of three-dimensional work should include no more than two views of each sculpture.

Personal Statement
A one-page statement of educational objectives and career goals indicating why you believe these will be advanced by study at the Academy. Applicants are encouraged to discuss work in the portfolio and indicate how study at the Academy will progress individual development.

References
At least one letter of recommendation. Letters of recommendation from academic professionals are strongly recommended. Please contact your references to ensure timely submission of your recommendation by the application deadline. If you have any questions, please email admissions@nyaa.edu for assistance.

Unofficial Transcript
A copy of your most recent undergraduate transcript must be submitted to the Academy. Please upload an unofficial copy.

For questions regarding the application or scholarships, please contact the Admissions Department at 212.842.5961 or admissions@nyaa.edu

Congratulations on your acceptance and welcome to the New York Academy of Art! Please review the information and links below on how to submit your enrollment deposit and confirm at your spot at the Academy.

Please read the information below regarding your non-refundable deposit. Login to the Academy Portal or click the link in your acceptance email to submit your decision.

MFA Enrollment Decision & Deposit

The Academy requires an $850 non-refundable deposit from accepted applicants to confirm their place in the MFA program. The deposit will be deducted from the first semester tuition invoice.

CFA Enrollment Decision & Deposit

The Academy requires an $850 non-refundable deposit from accepted applicants to confirm their place in the CFA program. The deposit will be deducted from the first semester tuition invoice.

SURP Enrollment Decision & Deposit

The Academy requires a $500.00 non-refundable enrollment deposit from accepted applicants to confirm their place in the SURP program. For those requesting dormitory accomodations, an additional $500.00 non-refundable housing deposit is required. The enrollment and housing deposits will be deducted from the final tuition and fee invoice.

Deferral Policy

Accepted applicants may defer for one year. The deposit fee and contract must be submitted to officially defer. Deferred applicants who do not enroll after one year must reapply.Deferred applicants are guaranteed a place in the program beginning the next academic year. However, scholarship awards are not guaranteed. Deferred applicants will be reconsidered for a scholarship award during next admissions review.

The Academy’s Transfer of Credit form and policy can be found through the link below. Please note that applications for credit transfer will be reviewed by the Committee separately from the program application. Completed forms are due to the Registrar’s office by May 1. Questions? Email registrar@nyaa.edu.

Transfer of Credit Policy