MFA program virtual open house

The Carnegie Mellon University School of Art MFA Program is an interdisciplinary, experimental, research-based program that provides students with a challenging and supportive context to expand and develop their work and thinking as artists. As one of the top-ranked graduate programs in the country (US News and World Report), the School views art-making as a vital social, critical, and intellectual pursuit. Graduate students are encouraged to employ a comparative and intersectional approach to critical and cultural theories, and to allow this inquiry to inform and expand what it means to be an artist and to make art within our contemporary condition.

Register here for the virtual open house on November 14 at 11:30am ET. Other virtual and in-person opportunities can be found here.

Three-year structure
The Program’s unique three-year structure is designed to provide the time, resources, and support for in-depth multidisciplinary research, the development of new technical and conceptual skills, and the possibility of radical shifts in materials, themes, and processes. Combined, the three-year structure, small cohort, and committed core faculty aim to provide a platform that supports the formation of progressive ideas, theories, and studio practices.

True interdisciplinarity
Centering an interdisciplinary approach, the Program supports artists working across all mediums to foster relationships between artistic practices within the School, as well as bridging methodologies throughout the University. In addition to generous time afforded for individual studio development, graduate students take advantage of a wealth of electives, visiting lecturers, innovative technologies, grant opportunities, funded external advisors, and much more.

Financial support
The School of Art provides full tuition funding for all MFA students, regardless of background or citizenship status. While each admitted student will receive financial assistance that covers their entire tuition for all three years, students will still be responsible for University fees and health insurance. In addition to full tuition support, MFA students are able to access additional funding through the School of Art and University for research, resources, and travel.

Applications for fall 2025 are due January 15, 2025. For more information, visit here.