MFA/MA Equity Scholarship

Equity Scholarships are open to all students regardless of race.

Equity scholarships are intended to remove financial barriers for students who have demonstrated a commitment to racial justice seeking to pursue a Graduate Degree at PNCA. Students at the Hallie Ford School of Graduate Studies often seek to explore, experiment, and reimagine everything and we would like to hear how you would plan to do so.

Along with offering these scholarships to selected incoming students we offer additional opportunities for connection and community building through social events and outings led by faculty members and local artists and mentors.

Equity Scholarships are NOT open to International, Low Residency Creative Writing and Post-Baccalaureate students.

Scholarship Timeline

Application Deadline: March 15, 2024 by 11:59 PM PST.
Award Notification: March 30, 2024.

Scholarship Application Requirements

Please provide a narrative description of how you have demonstrated your commitment to ending racial injustice (community based work, activism, organizing, political education, mutual aid, etc.) or how you plan to use your PNCA education in a commitment to ending racial injustice — 250-500 words

In addition to the essay, equity scholarship applicants will need to meet the following criteria:

  • Submit a completed Graduate application for Summer or Fall 2024.
  • Complete the online application by January 15, 2024.
  • Students in Oregon who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) as well as other undocumented students who are ineligible to submit a FAFSA may submit an Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA)
  • Submit official undergraduate degree transcripts to the PNCA Graduate Admissions Office.

Scholarship Award Details

  • Two full-tuition scholarships will be awarded to students who have shown a dedicated commitment to equity for Black, Indigenous, and non-Black students of color. The PNCA Graduate Equity Scholarship will cover the full amount of tuition for up to 2 consecutive years for MFA and MA students and 3 for a Dual degree student at PNCA. The two students who receive this scholarship must use all grants that they are eligible to receive through our Financial Aid Office, and the Equity Scholarship will cover the remaining tuition balance.
  • Students are responsible for yearly fees.
  • Students are responsible for Health insurance costs unless they can prove they already have health coverage
  • Two scholarships of $5,000 (renewable each year for 2 years) will be awarded to students who have shown a dedicated commitment to equity for Black, Indigenous, and non-Black students of color. These scholarships are in addition to the initial merit and portfolio-based scholarship that students receive upon admission into PNCA.

Selection Criteria

Scholarship recipients are selected based on the following:

  • Demonstration of the potential for excellence through a strong application to the graduate school
  • Evaluation of information submitted in the candidate’s scholarship application
  • Demonstrated commitment to ending racial injustice (community based work, activism, organizing, political education, mutual aid, etc.), or, a clear articulation of how graduate study at PNCA will help the student achieve their creative goals and “reimagine the world” — 250-500 word narrative description for either prompt.

Scholarship Renewal

This scholarship is renewable for up to 2 consecutive years or 3 years for Dual degree students at PNCA. To maintain this scholarship, you must:

  • Maintain full-time student status (enroll in a minimum of 12 credits each semester)
  • Maintain a minimum 3.00 PNCA GPA
  • Demonstrate satisfactory progress toward completion of a degree
  • If a full tuition Equity Scholarship recipient chooses to take more than 18 credits (the maximum amount for a normal course load), they are responsible for paying for any additional courses.