Architecture Scholarships | Landscape Architecture Scholarships | NSAD


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 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, 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 of good standing at NewSchool.  The student must submit a completed Legacy Scholarship Application, provided by the alumnus along with a written recommendation.  This scholarship is for $1,000 and will be awarded once a 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.


The NSAD Counselor and Teacher’s Scholarship for Undergraduate Study

The NSAD Counselor and Teacher’s $1000 Scholarships for Undergraduate Study are awarded by teachers and counselors who attend the NSAD Counselor’s Days, typically scheduled during the Fall and Winter quarters. It is expected that up to $40,000 in these scholarships will be awarded this year.  Winning students will apply their scholarships over the first three terms of their enrollment at NSAD.  Each teacher and counselor who attends the NSAD Counselor’s Day will be eligible to receive one certificate to award to one of their students.  The criteria for each applicant is as follows:

  • Each interested high school senior or college student will submit complete NSAD application.
  • Each interested student must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • Each interested student must submit a statement explaining why the student wants to attend college to pursue a career in an architecture or design field.
  • Each teacher or counselor will review the submissions from their interested students to select the recipient who is ready to benefit from NSAD’s mission to develop technically competent, aesthetically sensitive, socially responsible professionals prepared for a changing, global society.
  • The teacher or counselor will award the scholarship certificate to the selected student, and will send a copy of the certificate and the winning statement to the Office of Admissions at NSAD.


NSAD annually awards Presidential Scholarships to students in both the Bachelor of Architecture and Master of Architecture programs. All eligible students are encouraged to apply by the deadline noted below. Scholarship awards are made for varying amounts, generally between $1,000 and $10,000 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.