Scholarships + Awards
NewSchool of Architecture and Design provides more than $500,000 in scholarships each year. Awards are confirmed quarterly by the scholarship committee. Additional information on specific scholarships is available in the admissions and financial aid offices. Please call the Office of Financial Aid at 619-684-8800. Learn more about the following:
- The ACE Mentor Program
- The NewSchool of Architecture and Design Merit Scholarship
- NewSchool of Architecture and Design Grant
- NewSchool of Architecture and Design Alumni Legacy Scholarship
- NewSchool Presidential Scholarships
The ACE Mentor Program brings together architects, contractors, and engineers (ACE) to provide encouragement to high school students interested in entering careers in construction and design-related fields.
The program operates in more than 50 sites across the country, including San Diego, and provides mentoring and college scholarship opportunities. The $5,000-per-year ACE scholarship can be renewed annually for the length of the five-year undergraduate program.
Eligible applicants must:
- Complete an application, available at participating high schools.
- Achieve and maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher.
- Submit a portfolio. This is a compilation of design work, art projects, crafts, furniture, poetry, creative writing, and/or photography from academic, professional, or individual experience. No more than 10 pages, single-sided, sized 8 1/2” x 11”. See portfolio guidelines
for details. - Complete a typed, two-page personal essay expressing their career goals and the reasons they want to attend NSAD.
- Provide two recommendations from high school teachers.
The NewSchool of Architecture and Design Merit Scholarship is open to all new students with an incoming GPA of 3.0 or higher. The award is $400 per quarter for the first three quarters of attendance. Recipients must attend full time and remain in good academic standing. Eligible students may receive this award in conjunction with the NSAD Grant (see below). College transcripts with 12 or more earned credits will be used to determine eligibility for transfer students. If multiple college transcripts are submitted with 12 or more earned credits, the cumulative GPA will be used to determine award eligibility.
The NewSchool of Architecture and Design Grant is available to all new students with a valid and verified expected family contribution (EFC) between $0 and $2,500, as calculated by the U.S. Department of Education. The grant provides $550 per quarter for the first three quarters of attendance. Students must attend full time and remain in good academic standing. Eligible students may receive this award in conjunction with the NSAD Merit Scholarship (see above) and the Presidential Scholarship (see below). Awards are confirmed quarterly by the Scholarship Committee.
The NewSchool of Architecture and Design Alumni Legacy Scholarship
The NewSchool of Architecture and Design Alumni Legacy Scholarship is offered to new students who apply for the scholarship and are recommended by an alumnus/alumna of good standing at NewSchool. The student must submit a completed Legacy Scholarship Application, provided by the alumnus/alumna along with a written recommendation. This scholarship is for $1,000 and will be awarded once per calendar year. It is for the entire length of the student’s degree program, as long as the student maintains continuous enrollment. The student must be enrolled full-time each term and must maintain a minimum of a 2.75 GPA each quarter.
NewSchool Presidential Scholarships
NSAD annually awards NewSchool Presidential Scholarships to students in all NSAD programs. All eligible students are encouraged to apply by the deadline, which can be obtained from the Office of Financial Aid at 619-684-8800. Scholarship awards are given in varying amounts, generally between $1,000 and $12,000 per year, dependent on the number of applicants and the amount of available funds.
Scholarship and leadership are the two most important criteria in selecting recipients for the Presidential Scholarship. In addition, applicants will be reviewed for the significance of their work as recognized by the faculty and/or other professionals, and service that leads to the betterment of NSAD. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 is required. Continuing student applicants must confirm that they have activated their newschoolarch.edu email address as part of the process.
