Design Scholarships

Presentation can be everything. If it wasn’t, those culinary geniuses on "Iron Chef" would spend less time making their ingredients match and more time making them taste yummy. It’s hard to be proud of a dish that doesn’t look right and it’s not as fun to give a gift when the bow and paper don’t match. If you don’t believe me, ask the guys from Apple: They used the theory to turn fruit into an empire.

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Whether you’re interested in interior design, textile design, graphic design or any other type of design, don’t let anyone fool you into thinking looks don’t matter. Sometimes they do and if you’re a design student, they matter most of the time. Good ads and product designs require creativity (and a background in advertising and marketing) but know-how is just as important. Degrees in design can prepare college students for successful careers in the industry. And while affording an education may feel like an insurmountable problem, it doesn’t have to be one.

A number of scholarship funds have been created with design students in mind. To find information about design scholarships, students can conduct a free scholarship search at Scholarships.com. At Scholarships.com, students will find tips for saving money, college funding resources and, of course, myriad information about scholarships and grants that can help them obtain a degree in design. Check out just a few of these design scholarships below.

Media Fellows Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 6/30/2023
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Washington Media Scholars Foundation provides the opportunity for college students to gain firsthand knowledge of the public policy advertising world through scholarship and networking opportunities. The Media Fellows program is the Foundation’s essay-based scholarship program, striving to provide financial assistance to undergraduate college students with interests at the intersection of [...] More

Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2024
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Betty Harlan Memorial Art Scholarship provides educational resources to students pursuing a degree in the visual arts. Applicants must answer the essay prompt: "Considering the background and criteria of this scholarship, why are you the best candidate? Discuss your involvement in organizations and activities that focus on the visual arts."

    Applicant must: Be a graduating senior from a [...] More

Davidson Fellows Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/15/2024
  • Amount: $50,000
  • The Davidson Fellows Scholarship awards scholarships to extraordinary young people, 18 and under, who have completed a significant piece of work. Application categories are Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, Literature, Music, Philosophy and Outside the Box. Davidson Fellows are honored every year in Washington, D.C. with Congressional meetings and a special reception. Applicants must [...] More

Frederick R. Layton Art Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/18/2024
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The Frederick R. Layton Art Scholarship is a scholarship available to current Mount Mary students who are enrolled in a major in an arts and design academic area. Multiple scholarships of up to $3,000 each are awarded every year. Eligible applicants must be enrolled as a full-time student in an undergraduate program, have completed at least one college art course at Mount Mary University or [...] More

LAGRANT Foundation Undergraduate Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 2/28/2024
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Each year, The LAGRANT Foundation provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate ethnic minority students who are attending accredited institutions and are pursuing careers in the fields of advertising, marketing or public relations. The scholarship recipients will receive a trip to either New York City, Portland, OR, or Minneapolis, MN where they will participate in career building [...] More

SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2024
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Every year SEMA helps students pay for their college tuition and SEMA Members pay off their student loans. Students from all academic and technical disciplines that lead to careers in the automotive industry are welcome to apply! The SEMA Memorial Scholarship Fund is dedicated to fostering the next generation of automotive aftermarket industry leaders and innovators.

    Assistance is available [...] More

GRCF Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Minority Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2024
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Grand Rapids Community Foundation's Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids Minority Scholarship is awarded to students of color (African-American, Hispanic-American, Native-American, AAPI) attending a non-profit public or private college or university in Western Michigan, majoring in Fine Arts (including all visual and performing art forms). Applicants must demonstrate financial hardship, be a [...] More

IFDAEF Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/31/2024
  • Amount: $4,000
  • The International Furnishing and Design Association offers scholarships to students majoring in interior design or a related design/furnishing program. Scholarships are awarded to both undergrad and graduate students who are currently enrolled in an accredited institution, either full-time or part-time, and studying interior design, furniture design, sustainable design, textile design or a [...] More

Tom Tolen Educational Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2024
  • Amount: $5,000
  • To be eligible for the Tom Tolen Educational Scholarship, applicants must: be enrolled in an accredited class or program in an accredited educational institution; be in an approved curricula including architecture, architectural engineering, electrical engineering, interior design, landscape design, theater, or broadcasting, accredited by the Accrediting Board for Engineering and Technology [...] More

Alan Lucas Educational Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2024
  • Amount: $1,500
  • Applications for the Alan Lucas Educational Scholarships may be submitted by full-time students who desire to study propose to pursue lighting education or research as part of their undergraduate, graduate or doctoral studies. Applications for the Alan Lucas Memorial Educational Scholarships may be made by those who will be a junior, senior, or graduate student in an accredited four year college [...] More

Robert W. Thunen Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2024
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Applications for the Thunen Memorial Scholarship may be submitted by full-time students who desire to study illumination as a career. Applications for the Thunen Memorial Scholarship may be made by those who will be an undergraduate junior, senior or graduate student (Fall semester only) in an accredited four year college or university located in Northern California, Nevada, Oregon or [...] More

Iowa Scholarships for the Arts

  • Application Deadline: 4/3/2024
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs empowers Iowa to build and sustain culturally vibrant communities by connecting Iowans to the people, places and points of pride that define our state. Throughout our generosity, financial aid is offered. Iowa Scholarship for the Arts is an award to help support student's future arts education. Applicants must be outstanding Iowa high school seniors who [...] More

CMAA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/14/2024
  • Amount: $3,500
  • To be eligible for the CMAA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Scholarship, applicants must: be actively enrolled in an approved area of study and must have a minimum of one full academic year remaining prior to completing the degree being pursued (graduate and undergraduate programs are accepted [CM, Architecture, Engineering]); how a strong interest in a career in CM, as demonstrated by a response to the [...] More

CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/14/2024
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship is for full time African-American or Black students pursuing a degree in visual arts including, but not limited to, architecture, ceramics, drawing, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, painting, photography, sketching, video production and other decorative arts.

    Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident who is [...] More

Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2024
  • Amount: $2,000
  • The mission of the Nellie Martin Carman Scholarship is to acknowledge, support, and empower exceptional graduating high school seniors of King, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties by providing financial assistance for an education at their college of choice within Washington state. Over 1,000 of the most promising high school graduates from King, Pierce and Snohomish counties have attended college [...] More

AAUW Returning Scholar Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2024
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The AAUW Elmhurst Area Branch NFP is offering grants to local women who need financial assistance to continue their education at the undergraduate or graduate level. An applicant may be studying full or part time and must meet the following criteria: be a resident of Elmhurst, Addison, Bensenville, Berkeley, Northlake, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, or Villa Park; be continuing education after [...] More

David Barrett Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/20/2024
  • Amount: $12,000
  • The David Barrett Memorial Scholarship is awarded biennially to recognize the work of an outstanding undergraduate or graduate student who demonstrates an interest and ability in utilizing classical design elements and traditional materials in their work. Classical design is aligned with Greek and Roman design principals. Please be creative and innovative in how this is translated in your work. [...] More

ASID Legacy Scholarship for Graduate Students

  • Application Deadline: 4/20/2024
  • Amount: $4,000
  • The ASID Foundation Legacy Scholarship is open to students who are enrolled in or have been accepted for admission to a graduate-level interior design program at an accredited university. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic accomplishment, creative achievement, and personal statement. Applicants must write an essay on the following subject: "As an interior designer, how will [...] More

ASID Joel Polsky Prize

  • Application Deadline: 4/20/2024
  • Amount: $5,000
  • Given annually, the Joel Polsky Prize recognizes outstanding academic contributions to interior design through print or digital communication. This year, the ASID Foundation is seeking submissions focusing on the impact of design on health and wellness. Submissions should address the needs of the public, designers, and students on topics such as, educational research, behavioral science, business [...] More

ASID Legacy Scholarship for Undergraduates

  • Application Deadline: 4/20/2024
  • Amount: $4,000
  • The Legacy Scholarship is open to all students in their junior or senior year of undergraduate study enrolled in at least a three-year accredited program of interior design. The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic accomplishment, creative achievement, and personal statement. The jury will evaluate entries on academic record, presentation skills, design and planning competency, [...] More

AAF-Greater Evansville Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/21/2024
  • Amount: Varies
  • The AAF-Greater Evansville awards scholarships to deserving high school and/or college students yearly in April. To be eligible, students must plan to pursue a career in advertising, marketing, public relations or graphic design. The applicant must be graduating from a high school or currently attending college in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Pike in Indiana or Edwards, White, Wabash, [...] More

Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation

  • Application Deadline: 5/1/2024
  • Amount: $20,000
  • The Print and Graphics Scholarship Foundation was organized in 1956 by concerned industry leaders as a nonprofit, private, industry-directed corporation to develop and dispense scholarship and fellow assistance to talented young people who are interested in graphic communications careers. Applicants may be high school seniors or students enrolled in a post-secondary program as full-time students [...] More

TLMI Two-Year Degree Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/1/2024
  • Amount: $2,500
  • To be eligible for the TLMI Two-Year Degree Scholarship, applicants must be enrolled full-time in an accredited two-year college or technical program in the United States or Canada and must be pursuing a degree in printing. Major course work should include courses which are relevant to the tag, label and/or package printing industry. These courses can include (but are not limited to): Management, [...] More

TLMI Four-Year Degree Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/1/2024
  • Amount: $5,000
  • To be eligible for the TLMI Four-Year Degree Scholarship, applicants must attend, full-time, an accredited college or university in the United States or Canada. The four-year college program scholarship is reserved for junior and senior year students only. Major course work should include courses which are relevant to the tag, label and/or package printing industry. These courses can include (but [...] More

IFMA Foundation Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 5/2/2024
  • Amount: $10,000
  • The IFMA Foundation scholarship program awards scholarships that range in value from $1,500 - $10,000 dollars, and are awarded to undergraduate and graduate students that are enrolled in facility management or facility management-related programs (FM related programs include, but are not limited to, construction management, architecture, interior design and some engineering disciplines).

    To be [...] More

Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/31/2024
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Betty Stevens-Frecknall Scholarship is a prestigious national academic scholarship that is not limited to a particular college or university. Recipients must be full-time university students pursuing an academic degree in an information technology field. The selection committee will choose the scholarship recipients on the basis of scholastic ability, leadership potential and financial [...] More

Against the Grain Artistic Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/31/2024
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Against The Grain Artistic Scholarship provides financial assistance and promotion of Asian American college students pursuing a major in the performing, visual arts, journalism and/or mass communications. To be eligible, applicants must: be of at least 25% Asian and/or Pacific Islander ethnicity; be a citizen, national or legal permanent resident of the U.S.; have a 3.0 GPA; have [...] More

Out To Innovate Scholarships for LGBTQ+STEM Students

  • Application Deadline: 6/3/2024
  • Amount: $5,000
  • The Out to Innovate Scholarships, established in 2011, are intended for LGBTQ+ undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) programs. The scholarships are designed to promote academic excellence and increased visibility of talented LGBTQ+ students in STEM careers.

    One scholarship will go to an undergraduate student, and one [...] More

The Fulbright Program

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • Through our unique international educational and cultural exchange programs, Fulbright’s diverse and dynamic network of scholars, alumni and global partners fosters mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations, shares knowledge across communities, and improves lives around the world. Since its establishment in 1946 by Congress, the Fulbright Program has given more than [...] More

Trident Technical College Workforce Pathways Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • Trident Technical College (TTC) Division of Education is offering a limited number of State-Funded Scholarships for workforce training programs (until funds are expended). This is a separate opportunity from the funds that are available to pay for academic courses at Trident Technical College. The Workforce Pathways Scholarship is funded by the South Carolina General Assembly through the South [...] More
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Last Reviewed: June 2023