Organizer Information
Washington University in St. Louis (WashU) is a private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Relevant study for artists, filmmakers, designers, architects, and researchers is offered through the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Arts & Sciences, and related academic units. The Sam Fox School includes the College of Art and College of Architecture, while Arts & Sciences offers Film and Media Studies and Art History and Archaeology.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: Washington University in St. Louis
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA / BFA / BS / MA / MFA / MDes / MArch / MLA / MUD / MS / PhD
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Film & Media / Photography / Design / Fashion Design / Architecture / Landscape Architecture / Urban Design / Art History & Archaeology
- Relevant Programs: Film and Media Studies; BFA/BA in Studio Art and Design; BFA in Communication Design; BFA in Fashion Design; BA in Design; BS/BA in Architecture; MFA in Visual Art; MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture; MDes for HCI and Emerging Technology; MArch; MLA; MUD; MS in Advanced Architectural Design; MS in Architectural Studies; MA in Film and Media Studies; MA in Art History and Archaeology.
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Program-specific; Fall 2027 applications are open for relevant graduate programs
- Application Deadline: Program-specific
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027
- Application Fee: $75 undergraduate; $40 Sam Fox graduate art/design programs; $85 architecture graduate application from 15 December 2026; $45 Arts & Sciences graduate programs.
- Tuition: Undergraduate $35,655 per semester; 2026–27 Sam Fox graduate tuition starts at $52,200 annually for MFA programs.
- Funding: Scholarships, fellowships, grants, and assistantships are available, with eligibility varying by school and program.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- WashU provides interdisciplinary study across art, design, architecture, film and media, and art history. Undergraduate Studio Art includes concentrations in Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, and Time-Based + Media Art. Film and Media Studies covers film criticism, history, theory, and production.
- Graduate applicants can pursue interdisciplinary visual-art practices including spatial, lens-based, two-dimensional, interactive, sound, and performative work in the MFA in Visual Art. The MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture is aimed at illustrators, comic artists, and designers.
General Eligibility
- Eligibility is program-specific. Undergraduate applicants must meet WashU's first-year or transfer admission criteria. Graduate applicants must meet the academic prerequisites established by their program.
- For Arts & Sciences graduate programs, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent before enrollment and meet program-specific requirements.
- The MFA in Visual Art requires a BFA or academic equivalent and a minimum 3.0 GPA. MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture applicants should have a BFA or equivalent preparation. MDes applicants must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- The M.Arch accepts applicants with a bachelor's degree in architecture or any other major.
Language Requirements
International graduate applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency unless they qualify for an official exemption. Current Sam Fox minimums include IELTS Academic 6.5, TOEFL iBT 90 under the traditional scale, or Duolingo English Test 125; WashU also lists a GATEWAY English Test minimum of 495.
For international undergraduate applicants, WashU requires English proficiency evidence, including an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 or Duolingo score of 130, subject to its stated exemptions.
Application Fee
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Application Fee | Waiver / Exception |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | First-year applicants | $75 | Fee waivers available to qualifying applicants, including applicants for need-based financial aid |
| MFA in Visual Art | Graduate | $40 | Free through 14 December 2026 |
| MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture | Graduate | $40 | Free through 14 December 2026 |
| MDes for HCI & Emerging Technology | Graduate | $40 | Free through the stated early application period |
| Architecture graduate programs | Graduate | $85 | Free through 14 December 2026; fee starts 15 December |
| Arts & Sciences graduate programs | Graduate | $45 | Program-specific conditions may apply |
Tuition
| Study Level / Program | Applicant Type | Tuition | Billing Structure | Other Mandatory Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | All undergraduate students | $35,655 | Per semester | Student activities and health/wellness fees; health insurance requirement |
| MFA in Visual Art | Graduate | $52,200 annually | Per year | $3,730 annual fees, including health insurance, health services, activity, studio and Adobe fees |
| MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture | Graduate | $52,200 annually | Per year | $3,730 annual fees |
| MDes HCI & Emerging Technology | Graduate | $55,000 annually | Per year | $3,730 annual fees |
Funding & Financial Support
- Sam Fox provides full and significant tuition scholarships, fellowships, paid assistantships, and other funding opportunities for eligible graduate students. The MFA in Visual Art states that 94% of graduate students receive support, and assistantships are awarded to all second-year MFA-VA students in good academic standing and to selected first-year students.
- MFA-IVC also offers competitive funding, including full-tuition scholarship opportunities and paid teaching or research assistantships. International graduate students may apply through the school's international financial-aid process.
University Services & Academic Support
- Relevant support includes dedicated academic advising, faculty mentoring, graduate studio space, critique, research seminars, professional-practice training, specialized art and fabrication facilities, and access to university-wide courses. MFA-VA students receive individual faculty mentorship and group critique and can take electives across WashU.
- Film and Media Studies provides access to film archives, projectors, theater-sized auditoriums, and screening activities.
Application Requirements
Requirements vary by program. Common graduate materials include:
- Curriculum vitae
- Academic transcripts
- Statement of objectives or personal essays
- References
- English-proficiency scores for applicable international applicants
- Application fee
The MFA in Visual Art additionally requires a portfolio of 20 examples of work.
The MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture requires a CV, transcripts, statement of objectives, expository writing sample, 12–20 portfolio samples, three references, and English-proficiency evidence for applicable international applicants.
The MDes requires a portfolio, academic records, personal essay, references, and a short video essay explaining a selected design project.
How to Apply?
- WashU Undergraduate Application Portal
- WashU Graduate Application Portal
- Sam Fox Graduate Admissions Application Portal
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Opens: 1 September 2026
- Early Action Undergraduate Deadline: 2 November 2026
- Early Decision I Undergraduate Deadline: 2 November 2026
- Scholarship Application Deadline: 16 December 2026
- Arts & Sciences Doctoral Application Deadline: 1 December 2026
- MA in Art History and Archaeology Deadline: 15 January 2027
- MFA in Visual Art Application Deadline: 10 January 2027
- MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture Application Deadline: 10 January 2027
- MDes Application Deadline: 10 January 2027
- Architecture Graduate Application Deadline: 3 January 2027
- Decisions for Sam Fox MFA-VA: 1 March 2027
- Decisions for Sam Fox MFA-IVC: 1 March 2027
Location
Washington University in St. Louis — St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Additional Details
Graduate deadlines and requirements differ substantially by program. In particular, the Arts & Sciences MA in Film and Media Studies has a 15 January 2027 deadline, while Sam Fox art, design, and architecture programs have separate January deadlines. The Film and Media Studies MA is academically oriented toward the history, criticism, and theory of moving-image culture rather than professional film production.