Scholarships + Grants
Financing your future
Kansas City Art Institute is dedicated to helping students realize their educational objectives by providing scholarships, grants, loans, student employment, and other financial aid programs. KCAI helps over 99% of our students find the financial aid they need to pursue their B.F.A. degree. We awarded $15.9 million dollars of institutional aid in the 2022-23 academic year.
To apply for Federal Aid, file your FAFSA and enter our school code 002473. The Department of Education will announce the 2024-2025 FAFSA application opening date in December 2023. KCAI’s priority deadline for filing the FAFSA is February 1.
Scholarships
By applying to KCAI you are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. Scholarship decisions are made based on an applicant’s portfolio and academic achievements. Transcripts are required and standardized test scores are optional. KCAI merit scholarships will only be applied toward tuition and fees. All other KCAI grants and scholarships are unrestricted.
Priority Scholarship Deadlines
Freshman scholarships:
- First postmark deadline is December 1.
- Second postmark deadline is February 1.
- Third postmark deadline is March 1.
Transfer student scholarships:
- Postmark deadline is March 1.
- Second postmark deadline is April 1.
KCAI merit scholarships are renewed in full annually for full-time students with a cumulative GPA of 2.5. KCAI reviews and determines renewal eligibility upon completion of the fall semester of the student’s second year and beyond.
For students who do not qualify for renewal in full, the following amounts will be awarded:
2.0 to 2.49 - 85% of original award
Below 2.0 - 75% of original award
| Fall Semester | Spring Semester | |
| 1st Year | GPA not monitored | If cumulative GPA is below the requirements, student will be placed on merit warning for the following semester |
| 2nd Year | GPA is checked at the end of the semester | If cumulative GPA is below the requirements, merit scholarship will be reduced for the 3rd year |
| 3rd Year | GPA is checked at the end of the semester | If cumulative GPA is below the requirements, merit scholarship will be reduced for the 4th year |
| 4th Year | GPA is checked at the end of the semester | After the 4th year if cumulative GPA is below the requirements, merit scholarship may be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and only awarded at the decreased amount |
Procedure for Scholarship Appeal
Scholarship probation hearings will include the student and representatives from Financial Aid and Disability and Academic Support Services. During the hearing, the student will be asked to present a statement explaining the circumstances that may have impacted their GPA or completion rate, as well as any documentation relevant to those circumstances. If the appeal is approved, the student and representatives will develop an academic plan the student will be required to follow during the scholarship probation year and the scholarship will be renewed in full.
There are no additional appeal processes following the end of the probation year. All decisions made for the probation year are final, and will remain until the student’s cumulative GPA returns to a 2.5 or higher. If the student’s appeal is denied, the student’s merit scholarship will be reduced according to the GPA guidelines above. The student must contact the Financial Aid Office when they regain the minimum scholarship standards to have their merit scholarship amount fully reinstated.
External Scholarship Websites
There are a number of other scholarship and financial aid opportunities available for KCAI students. Be sure to visit the following sites to research other funding options that may fit your needs.
bold.org
careersandcolleges.org
Citizens Bank
collegeboard.com
Greater Kansas City Community Foundation
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship (transfer students)
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship (High School Seniors)
KC Scholars
Missouri Scholarship & Loan Foundation
My Scholarship Central (MOCAN)
Nelnet Bank Free Scholarship Search
Niche.com (for currently enrolled KCAI students)
Sallie Mae Free Scholarship Search
scholarshipexperts.com
studentscholarships.org
Unigo.com
Please be aware that any outside resources received could result in an adjustment to your original KCAI financial aid award.
If you are an individual company wishing to share your scholarship opportunity please email financialaid@kcai.edu. The Financial Aid Office will review your scholarship guidelines and email the information to our students. Please do not email multiple requests.
Grants
Grants do not require repayment. A prior bachelor’s degree excludes a student from eligibility for federal and state grant-based awards. To apply for grants, complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov.
Federal Pell Grants
- Renewable grants.
- Based on financial need.
- Administered by the federal government.
- Learn more about Federal Pell Grants by visiting studentaid.gov/
The Department of Education will announce the 2024-2025 FAFSA application opening date in December 2023. Priority deadline is February 1, 2024.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG)
- Federal government grants.
- Administered by KCAI.
- Based on financial need.
- Preference given to Pell Grant recipients.
- Learn more about FSEOG Grants here.
Missouri Financial Assistance Grants
Access Missouri
- Funded by the state of Missouri.
- Available to Missouri residents only.
- Based on financial need.
- February 1 priority deadline by submitting the FAFSA for the Missouri state grant.
- Renewal students must maintain a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 2.5 and not have received an Access Missouri award for a maximum of 10 semesters.
Bright Flight
Funded by the state of Missouri
- Available to Missouri residents only
Have a composite score on the ACT or SAT in either:
- The top 3 percent of all Missouri students taking those tests, or
- The top 4th or 5th percentiles of all Missouri students taking those tests.
Learn more about state scholarships and grants available to Missouri students here.
If you have questions about residency requirements, please contact the Coordinating Board for Higher Education in Jefferson City, Missouri, at 573-751-2361.