Organizer Information
Arizona State University (ASU) — Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, School of Art offers undergraduate and graduate education across studio art, art history, art education, museum and curatorial practice, photography, animation, ceramics, sculpture, expanded arts and related fields. The School of Art provides programs at Tempe and online, with specialized studios, laboratories, galleries, graduate studios and exhibition facilities.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Arizona State University — School of Art, Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA / BFA / MA / MFA / PhD
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Animation / Photography / Art Education / Art History / Art Studies / Art Therapy / Ceramics / Craft and Sculptural Practices / Expanded Arts / Museum and Curatorial Practices / Digital Technology / Painting, Drawing and Printmaking
- Relevant Programs: Art (Animation) BFA; Art (Art Education) BFA; Art (Art History) BA; Art (Art Studies) BA; Art (Art Therapy) BFA; Art (Ceramics) BFA; Art (Craft and Sculptural Practices) BFA; Art (Digital Photography) BFA; Art (Expanded Arts) BFA; Art (Museum and Curatorial Practices) BA; Art (Painting, Drawing and Printmaking) BFA; Art (Photography) BFA; Art MA; Art MFA; Art (Art Education) MA; Art (Art History) MA; Museum and Curatorial Practices MA; Art History PhD.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Undergraduate and graduate application periods vary by study level and program.
- Application Deadline: Program-specific; major fall 2027 undergraduate deadline is 15 January 2027.
- Start of Studies: Fall / Spring; program-specific
- Application Fee: From $90 undergraduate international; graduate international fee depends on applicant/study status
- Tuition: 2026–2027 international undergraduate base tuition: $39,062; international graduate base tuition listed by ASU at $30,348, with program/residency-dependent charges.
- Funding: Scholarships, grants, teaching assistantships and other university funding opportunities are available.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
The School of Art accepts students into disciplines spanning studio practice, art history, art education, photography, animation, ceramics, sculpture, expanded arts and museum/curatorial practice. Graduate admission requirements are program-specific. For example, the MA in Art requires a portfolio, while the MA in Art History requires an art-history background and formal research paper.
The MA in Art Education requires a bachelor's degree in any field but also requires at least 45 undergraduate credit hours in art, including 12 hours of art history and six hours of art education.
General Eligibility
International and domestic applicants may apply, subject to the requirements of the selected degree. International graduate applicants must also satisfy ASU's English-proficiency requirements and, after admission, U.S. visa and financial-guarantee requirements. International academic records must be submitted with official English translations.
Educational Background
- Undergraduate applicants must satisfy ASU's first-year or transfer admission requirements. International first-year applicants must have a completed secondary-school diploma or certificate and a minimum 3.00 secondary-school GPA; program-specific requirements may be higher.
- Graduate requirements vary by program. Most School of Art graduate programs require a bachelor's or master's degree from a recognized institution and a minimum 3.00 GPA in the applicable previous study. The Art History PhD requires a master's degree; relevant backgrounds include art history, architectural history, design history and related humanities fields.
Language Requirements
- International undergraduate applicants generally must demonstrate at least IELTS 6.0, while ASU lists higher requirements for certain colleges and programs.
- International graduate applicants must demonstrate English proficiency. ASU accepts IELTS Academic with an overall score of 6.5 or higher, as well as other approved examinations and pathways.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Study Level | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| International undergraduate | $90 |
| International undergraduate — ASU Online | $75 |
| Graduate — U.S. citizen/permanent resident and specified categories | $75 |
| Graduate — international student studying in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa | $120 |
| Graduate — international online student studying outside the U.S. | $75 |
ASU's current general graduate-admission page lists $120 for international students studying in the U.S. and $75 for international online students outside the U.S.
Tuition
| Study Level / Applicant Type | 2026–2027 Tuition / Fees |
|---|---|
| International undergraduate | $39,062 base tuition |
| International graduate | $30,348 base tuition |
| International undergraduate — additional listed charges | $350 tuition surcharge; $200 Advanced Technology Fee; $2,190 UG college fees; $807 student-initiated fees; $400 international student fee; $2,765 health insurance |
| International graduate — additional listed charges | $350 tuition surcharge; $200 Advanced Technology Fee; $300 graduate student support fee; $807 student-initiated fees; $400 international student fee; $2,765 health insurance |
ASU states that tuition can vary according to program, campus, modality and student circumstances and directs applicants to its tuition estimator for program-specific costs.
Funding & Financial Support
The School of Art identifies scholarships, grants, ASU funding opportunities, graduate teaching assistantships and student employment among available funding resources. The Art MFA also identifies scholarships and awards supporting travel and research, while the Art History PhD states that graduate assistantships or scholarships may be available. Funding is not guaranteed.
University Services & Academic Support
Students have access to School of Art academic advising, specialized studios and laboratories, public galleries, exhibition spaces and graduate studios. Facilities include photography darkrooms, digital media and video facilities, ceramics, metals, textiles, printmaking, wood-shop resources, maker spaces and motion-capture facilities. Grant Street Studios provides more than 60 graduate studios for MFA candidates.
Application Requirements
- Undergraduate: ASU application or Common Application, application fee and academic records. First-year applicants do not undergo a portfolio review at the time of admission to the School of Art.
- Art MA: official transcripts, CV/resume, portfolio, statement of intent, one recommendation letter and English proficiency.
- Art MFA: official transcripts, CV/resume, portfolio, statement of intent, three recommendation letters and English proficiency.
- Art (Art Education) MA: transcripts, formal art-education research paper, resume, statement of intent, two recommendation letters, and English proficiency.
- Art History MA: transcripts, three recommendation letters, formal research paper, statement of intent and English proficiency.
- Art History PhD: transcripts, proposed research abstract, personal statement, three recommendation letters and English proficiency.
- Museum and Curatorial Practices MA: transcripts, one-page letter of intent, two recommendation letters and English proficiency.
- Art (Digital Technology) MFA: ASU currently states that it is not accepting applications; when active, the program requires a portfolio, statements, CV/resume, evidence of digital-technology skills, three recommendation letters and English proficiency.
How to Apply?
- Undergraduate Application Portal: ASU Undergraduate Application
- Graduate Application Portal: ASU Graduate Application
- School of Art portfolio materials: ASU Herberger SlideRoom
Deadline & Timeline
- Undergraduate Application Opens: early July 2026
- Undergraduate Priority Deadline — Fall 2027: 1 November 2026
- Undergraduate Regular Deadline — Fall 2027: 15 January 2027
- Undergraduate FAFSA Priority Date: 15 January 2027
- Undergraduate Start of Studies — Fall 2027: 19 August 2027
- Art MA — Fall: 15 April 2027
- Art MA — Spring: 6 November 2026
- Art MFA — Fall: 15 January 2027
- Art (Art Education) MA — Fall: 15 January 2027
- Art (Art History) MA — Fall: 15 January 2027
- Art History PhD — Fall: 15 January 2027
- Art (Digital Technology) MFA — Fall: 15 January 2027; applications currently not accepted.
- Museum and Curatorial Practices MA — Fall, Session A/C: 23 July 2027
- Museum and Curatorial Practices MA — Fall, Session B: 17 September 2027
- Museum and Curatorial Practices MA — Spring: 14 December 2026
- Museum and Curatorial Practices MA — Summer: 19 April 2027
Location
Arizona State University — School of Art — Tempe, Arizona, United States
Additional Details
Graduate application deadlines are established by the individual academic programs rather than by one universal School of Art deadline. International graduate applicants must provide proof of English proficiency and, after admission, meet U.S. visa and financial-guarantee requirements.
ASU's current official pages contain differing graduate application-fee figures: the international graduate admissions page lists $115, while the general graduate admissions page lists $120 for international students studying in the U.S. and $75 for international online students outside the U.S. The general graduate admissions page provides the more specific current applicant-category distinction and is used above.