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:

• Senior Scholars Program
• 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
• NSAD Construction Management Department Scholarship
• New DMA Scholarship - Cut It Out
• New Interior Design Scholarship

Senior Scholars Program

The Senior Scholars Program is designed to help NewSchool students entering the final quarter of their degree who are encountering unexpected, unusual and temporary financial circumstances which are preventing them from finishing their program. The program offers students the chance to complete their degree by reducing the costs associated with tuition and fees in their final quarter. It combines the award of grant monies with community service via work on campus. The application criteria (detailed below) are strict, placing the responsibility on the student to prove he or she meets the award’s standards. The program is offered on a quarterly basis. The funds available are based on unused department funds, and hence fluctuate term by term.

Download the application and program overview.

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's mission is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in the integrated construction industry through mentoring; and to support their continued advancement in the industry through scholarships and grants. Industry professionals volunteer to become mentors to high school students in order to introduce them to the professions and encourage them to pursue studies and careers in these fields. In return, the industry get a much-needed boost of new talent. Please go to http://www.acementor.org/601 to see if your high school participates in this program.

The program operates in more than 50 sites across the country, including San Diego, and provides mentoring and college scholarship opportunities. For high school students who participated in the ACE Mentor program, you have the opportunity to apply for the ACE Mentor Scholarship. The $5,000-per-year ACE scholarship can be renewed annually for the length of the five-year undergraduate program. Scholarship requirements vary based on the participating college you are applying to. NewSchool is a participant in the ACE Mentor Program. If you qualify you may apply for this scholarship by going to http://www.acementor.org/601. In addition to the requirements on the website, the following NSAD requirements to receive this scholarship are listed below.

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.

For further information please contact the Financial Aid Office at (619) 684-8818.

The NewSchool of Architecture and Design Merit Scholarship

This 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

This 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.  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

NewSchool of Architecture and Design annually awards Presidential Scholarships to outstanding students in our architecture programs. All eligible architecture students are encouraged to apply by the deadline (download the application for more information). Scholarship awards are made for varying amounts, generally from $1,000 to $12,000 per year, with specific amounts dependent on the number of recommended applicants and the amount of funds available. 

Disbursement
Scholarship funds are disbursed quarterly during the academic year. Awards may be pro-rated for students taking less than a full load of coursework.

Criteria
Scholarship and leadership are the two most important criteria used in determining recipients.  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 grade average of 3.25 is normally expected for a successful applicant. 

Continuing Students
Scholarship applications from continuing students must be submitted no later than 5pm June 10, 2013.  The applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee, chaired by Provost Henri de Hahn.  The Committee will make its recommendations to the President, and final awards are expected to be made by July 2013.

New Students
There are two application cycles for new students. The first application cycle had a deadline of January 22, 2013, and awards were previously announced.  The second application deadline for new students is 5pm June 10, 2013, and awards are expected to be announced by July 2013. New student applicants must confirm that they have submitted a completed admission application.  The applications will be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee, chaired by Provost Henri de Hahn, and the Committee will make its recommendations to the President. 

Submission
The application form and requested materials should be sent to or delivered directly to the Academic Services Office (M-302), NewSchool of Architecture and Design, 1249 F Street, San Diego, CA 92101 no later than 5pm on the deadline date. Please assemble the materials in hard copy as one package. No emailed or electronic materials can be accepted. The application materials must be received by the 5pm deadline. Failure to comply with the application requirements, submitting an incomplete application, or submitting an application past the deadlines listed above will disqualify the candidate from consideration. For questions about the submission process, please contact Alex Tea (atea@newschoolarch.edu), the Academic Services Coordinator.

NSAD Construction Management Department Scholarship

Our goal is to offer as many scholarships to as many deserving students as possible. Both returning and new students are encouraged to apply. Provided the student proceeds at satisfactory academic progress, as required by NSAD, this scholarship may be renewable if funding is available, and an updated application is submitted. Awards may be combined with other non-CM Department scholarships as allowed by NSAD Financial Aid regulations. Total amounts awarded will not exceed the total cost of tuition and fees, books, and reasonable housing costs. Scholarship awards per quarter can be up to $2,500.00.

Please note, only existing CM students and prospective students with a completed admission application are eligible to apply. Additionally, national student scholarships are available for CM students from the Associated General Contractors, Design-Build Association of America, Construction Management Association of America and others.

Instructions: Please answer all questions using the electronic form. Scholarship Applications will be reviewed as received so students are strongly encouraged to apply early. Applications for new BSCM student scholarships are no longer being accepted for the 2012 – 2013 academic year. Applications will reopen in June 2013. The application deadline for all returning students and new MCM students for the Summer Term is Friday June 14th.

Top Tips from the CM Scholarship Committee:

1. A letter of recommendation and resume are strongly recommended. Submit to Lucy Campbell: lcampbell@newschoolarch.edu
2. Check your spelling before submitting the form
3. Use complete sentences in your answers
4. Don't leave questions blank
5. Try to be thoughtful and include complex statements

New DMA Scholarship - Cut It Out 

Due to the number of applicants, the Digital Media Arts Program (DMA) at NSAD will have a second run of the creative design competition for Fall 2013. Entrants to this competition have another chance to win scholarships toward your 2013/2014 tuition at NSAD!

The Design Brief
Your challenge is to create a mixed-media collage of any type using a variety of specialty papers, textures, photos, found objects, woods, plastics, and metals.

Theme: Your collage should address the topic of design as a tool for change. In other words, select an issue that is important to you, personal, local, or global – and through your design, show us how you would make a change.   

Winners will be selected on creative merit and will be offered a scholarship for 2013-2014 academic year tuition at NSAD, starting fall quarter, 2013.

Scholarship Awards:
Two first prize awards of up to $15,000
Two second prize awards of up to $10,000
Two third prize awards of up to $5,000

To Enter: 
• Mark and email a digital image of your completed collage to submissions@newschoolarch.edu.  Be sure to include your contact information (full name, email, phone number). 

Format Your Entry:
• Save your collage as a PDF or JPG file.
• For judging, we need to see the details, so a minimum 1200 pixels width is required (height may vary).
• Either portrait or landscape orientation is acceptable.

Deadline:
Entries must be received no later than June 14, 2013. NSAD will notify winners via email by June 24, 2013, after judging is complete.