Organizer Information
Dickinson College is a four-year residential liberal-arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, founded in 1783. Its academic offerings include undergraduate majors, minors, certificates, independent research, internships and study-abroad programs. Relevant creative disciplines are housed primarily in the Department of Art & Art History and include studio art, art history, and interdisciplinary Film & Media Studies.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Dickinson College
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate
- Degrees Offered: Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science
- Academic Fields: Studio Art, Art History, Film & Media Studies, Theatre Arts, Dance, Music and other arts disciplines
- Relevant Programs: Art & Art History major — Studio Art or Art History option; Film & Media Studies minor
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Fall 2027 first-year admission cycle
- Application Deadline: 15 November 2026 or 15 January 2027, depending on admission plan
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
- Application Fee: $0
- Tuition: $71,100 per academic year for 2026–27
- Funding: Merit scholarships and need-based financial aid are available; international students are eligible for institutional aid.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Dickinson's Art & Art History major offers two options: Studio Art and Art History. Studio Art covers areas including drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, digital and time-based media, sculpture and ceramics.
- The Film & Media Studies program is an interdisciplinary minor combining critical study and creative media work, including film production, screenwriting and media studies.
- Applicants are not required to enter Dickinson with an art-specific academic background. The college's general secondary-school preparation requirements apply to first-year applicants.
General Eligibility
- First-year applicants must complete a secondary-school program meeting Dickinson's entrance preparation requirements. Dickinson requires at least 16 secondary-school units, including four units of English, three units of natural science with at least two laboratory units, two units of social science and three units of college-preparatory mathematics. Two units of a world language are preferred but not required.
- Dickinson is test-optional. SAT or ACT scores may be submitted but are not required.
- International applicants are eligible to apply. Dickinson is need-aware for international admission, meaning an international applicant's ability to provide funding is considered in admission decisions.
Educational Background
- First-year applicants must satisfy Dickinson's secondary-school preparation requirements described above. Applicants who have already earned a bachelor's degree or equivalent apply as transfer applicants and are subject to different financial-aid conditions.
- For Art & Art History, prior studio-art coursework is not required for admission to the college or for becoming an Art & Art History major. Students entering with prior studio-art experience may consult studio faculty regarding course placement.
Language Requirements
- International applicants whose first language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency.
- Dickinson lists the following recommended scores:
- TOEFL iBT: 90, or 4.5 under the TOEFL scoring changes introduced in January 2026
- IELTS: 7.0
- Duolingo English Test: 120 with interview
- English proficiency may alternatively be demonstrated through at least three years at a secondary school where English was the principal language of instruction. Transfer applicants may establish proficiency through at least two years at a college or university where English was the principal language of instruction.
Application Fee
| Applicant Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| First-year applicants | $0 |
Dickinson has eliminated its undergraduate application fee.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All students | $71,100 | Per academic year | $550 student fee |
- For 2026–27, Dickinson lists $71,100 in tuition and a $550 student fee. Housing is listed at $9,600 and food at $9,050, producing a $90,300 billed comprehensive cost for tuition, housing, food and student fees.
- International students who are not covered by qualifying U.S. health insurance are also billed for mandatory health insurance; Dickinson currently identifies this cost as approximately $2,500.
Funding & Financial Support
- Dickinson offers merit scholarships and need-based financial aid to international students. International students are eligible for Dickinson merit scholarships, with no separate application required for standard merit consideration. Current institutional information lists merit awards ranging from $15,000 to $45,000 per year.
- International need-based aid is limited and Dickinson expects international students to contribute toward educational expenses. Mandatory health insurance and certain one-time costs are excluded from international financial-aid calculations.
- The Dickinson Promise provides tuition-free education to eligible domestic students from families earning $125,000 or less, beginning with the class of 2030; it does not apply to international applicants.
University Services & Academic Support
- Art & Art History students have access to specialized facilities including the Goodyear Building, individual studio spaces for studio-art majors, woodshop and sculpture facilities, painting and photography studios, and gallery spaces. Studio art majors receive round-the-clock access to the Goodyear facility.
- The Trout Gallery provides exhibition, museum-learning and research opportunities, including senior exhibitions and internships. The department also offers visiting artists, an artist-in-residence program and study-abroad opportunities.
Application Requirements
- Common Application, Coalition Application or Dickinson FlexApp
- Application essay
- Official secondary-school transcript
- Senior-year academic information before admission decisions
- School counselor recommendation and School Report
- One academic teacher recommendation; two are recommended
- Early Decision Agreement for Early Decision applicants
For international first-year applicants, additional requirements include English translations of non-English transcripts, proof of English proficiency and the International Certification of Finances.
Art & Art History portfolio: Recommended, not required. The department encourages applicants to submit 10–20 images through SlideRoom. Portfolio submission does not determine whether a student may take art courses or become an Art & Art History major.
An interview is not required. Interviews are available as an optional part of the admissions process, and Dickinson states that 11 December 2026 is the final date to schedule an interview for fall 2027 admission.
How to Apply?
- Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Opens: August 2026
- Early Decision I / Early Action Deadline: 15 November 2026
- Early Decision I Admission & Financial Aid Notification: Mid-December 2026
- Early Action Admission & Financial Aid Notification: Mid-January 2027
- Early Decision II Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Regular Decision Deadline: 15 January 2027
- Early Decision II Admission & Financial Aid Notification: Late February 2027
- Regular Decision Admission & Financial Aid Notification: Late March 2027
- Interview Scheduling Deadline: 11 December 2026
- Early Decision I Enrollment Deposit: Two to three weeks after acceptance
- Early Decision II Enrollment Deposit: Two to three weeks after acceptance
- Early Action Enrollment Deposit: 1 May 2027
- Regular Decision Enrollment Deposit: 1 May 2027
Location
Dickinson College — Carlisle, Pennsylvania, United States
Additional Details
- Dickinson is an undergraduate liberal-arts institution rather than a graduate art school. Its principal dedicated visual-arts offering is the Art & Art History major, with Studio Art and Art History options; Film & Media Studies is currently offered as a minor rather than a standalone film degree.
- The college's current admissions information is for fall 2027 entry. There will be no spring 2027 first-year admission cycle.