Quick Links

BFA Requirements

Admissions Requirements

All applicants, including transfer and international students, are required to submit the following items:

1. BFA Application Form

The application form is included with the BFA catalog or can be  downloaded here.

2. Application Fee

$35.00 if you choose to submit a paper application, or free if you use our online application. The fee is non-refundable and can be submitted by check, cash or credit card.

3. Essays

Write essays choosing two of the following three topics. Each essay should be a minimum of 200 words and can be attached to your application:

• Choose a piece in your portfolio that best represents you as an artist right now. Describe its strengths and weaknesses and relate it to what you want to learn at PNCA.
• Write about the achievements of a favorite artist, musician or writer. Explain why the work of this particular person is especially significant to you.
• Why do you wish to attend PNCA? How will an art school education help you achieve your goals as an artist or designer?

4. High School transcript

Submit official copies of current high school transcripts. PNCA requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C) Please note that faxed transcripts and transcripts stamped “Issued to Student” are not considered official transcripts by PNCA. If you did not complete high school, please submit a copy of your high school transcript and an official copy of your General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Applicants who are currently enrolled in their senior year of high school must submit a final transcript documenting graduation with a 2.0 minimum GPA. Applicants who have previously earned a bachelor’s degree are not required to submit high school transcripts.

5. College Transcripts

Students who have previously attended college must request official copies of all college transcripts sent directly to PNCA Admissions Office. Transcripts that are faxed, delivered in an unsealed envelope, or marked “Issued to Student” are considered unofficial and will not be accepted. PNCA requires transcripts from ALL colleges attended. College credit earned while enrolled in high school may also be transferred.

6. The Portfolio

General portfolio requirements: Your portfolio is an important part of your application. It will be evaluated on artistic and conceptual content, design and composition, technical skill and creative potential. Submit twelve to twenty examples of your best and most recent work. You can include classroom work, studio assignments or personal projects. We strongly recommend that students interested in the painting, printmaking and illustration majors include drawings in their portfolios. If you choose to include drawings in your portfolio, the majority of them should be done from direct observation. Observational drawings are done by looking at three-dimensional objects or space, and are not copies of photographs or other artists’ works. For example, you may draw landscapes, human figures, portraits, your room, or family pets.

Download our Portfolio Tips PDF.

How to submit: Portfolios may be submitted in person during a campus visit or to a PNCA representative at a National Portfolio Day or by sending examples in slide or digital format. All oversized work should be submitted in slide or digital format. Work does not need to be matted or framed.

All slide or digital portfolios submitted by mail must include an index list of the pieces which identifies each piece by number, title, medium, date, dimensions, and description of the assignment (if applicable).

• 35mm slides should be labeled with your name and the corresponding number from the index list. Submit slides in a plastic slide sheet.
• Digital files can be emailed or submitted on a PC-formatted CD-ROM in JPEG format.
• Moving images should be submitted in VHS or DVD format.

Portfolios will be returned to you as soon as possible if you have provided a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Slides and disks without return postage will be held for six months after receipt for you to pick up. After that time, they become the property of PNCA. While every effort is made to protect portfolios, PNCA is not responsible for loss or damage due to shipping. DO NOT MAIL ACTUAL, ORIGINAL WORKS TO THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE.

Transfer applicants: In addition to the twelve to twenty pieces required for general admissions, transfer students are required to submit additional examples of their artwork if they have completed and received credit for studio art classes at another college. The additional pieces must reflect work completed in the art classes and must be submitted in slide or digital format. An index identifying the size, medium, assignment, and the college course in which the work was executed must be included. All admissions materials, except portfolios, become the property of PNCA and will not be returned to you or released to another party.

7. Letter of Recommendation

Submitting a letter of recommendation is optional. However, if you choose to include a letter, we ask that you submit a reference from a current teacher, guidance counselor or mentor. Your recommendation letter could also be from an employer or from professional references. Do not submit letters from family members. The letter may be sent along with your application or mailed separately.

8. Interview

Although not required, we highly recommend scheduling a campus visit. During a visit you can tour the campus, meet with an Admissions Counselor and have your portfolio reviewed. Financial Aid and Housing information is also available during a campus visit.

9. Test Scores

Scores from the ACT or SAT test are not required for admission. If you are currently attending high school and plan to take the ACT or SAT test and submit the results to PNCA, be assured that your test scores will be used for advising purposes only.

Notification of Acceptance

Applications are reviewed once the Admissions Office receives all required materials. Within two weeks of the application review you will be notified by mail of your admissions status. If you accept PNCA’s offer of admission, a nonrefundable tuition deposit of $250 is required to secure a place in the incoming class. The tuition deposit is due May 1st or the date indicated on your letter of acceptance, whichever is later. The $250 deposit is credited to your student account upon registration.

Deferred Enrollment

Accepted students who wish to defer admission to a subsequent semester may request a deferment from the Admissions Office. Students who have taken courses since their initial acceptance into PNCA will need to submit official transcripts, and may be required to submit an updated portfolio. PNCA keeps applications on file for two years from the original application date.

Part Time Non-degree Attendance

Qualified students who wish to enroll part-time in the College’s BFA courses without applying to the BFA program may do so on a space available basis. No formal application is required, but students may be asked to provide college transcripts in addition to a portfolio. Part-time, non-degree registration takes place just before the start of each semester. Interested students must make an appointment with the Academic Advisor for a review and registration. Full tuition and fees are due at the time of registration. Note: Students matriculated in the BFA program are given priority in all courses.

Part Time High School Students

Talented high school students may receive both high school and college credit for certain courses taken through PNCA’s Continuing Education Program. These classes are offered at night, on the weekends, and during the summer. Interested students may request a catalog by contacting the Continuing Education Office. High School credit is arranged through the Director of Off-Campus Learning in the student’s high school district.

Home Schooled Students

Students who have completed their secondary (high school) education by home schooling must demonstrate the federal standard of Ability to Benefit. Along with the home school transcript, home schooled students must submit a diploma recognized by their local school district or an official copy of the GED. Students must also include a letter explaining why the family chose to home school. Download Home Schooled Requirements (PDF, 35k).

Advanced Placement

PNCA grants credit for specific requirements based on Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations of the College Board. Scores must be submitted to PNCA by the testing service. Credit is available in Art History, Literature, Natural Science, Mathematics and Social Science.

Veterans

PNCA welcomes veterans and children of deceased veterans who qualify under the provisions of the United States public laws pertaining to their education. A Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs must be submitted to the Registrar’s office. Veterans must be accepted into the BFA program to be eligible to receive benefits.

FIND YOUR PATH AT PNCA

ARTIST PROFILES