AIB Merit Scholarships

The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University offers a wide range of scholarships for undergraduate study. These scholarships are awarded to students based on the strength of academic record and/or artistic portfolio, and can significantly lower your cost of an AIB education.  Whether you are applying as a first-time freshman or transferring from another college, you should explore the many scholarship opportunities available to you. Approximately 65 percent of newly enrolled students receive AIB Scholarship awards. 

Merit Scholarships range from $1,000 to full tuition.
To be eligible, you must submit an application for admission and all other required credentials to the AIB Office of Admission.  You are automatically considered for these scholarships during the application review process and will be notified of your selection as a merit scholar at the same time you are notified of your admission decision. 

All of the scholarships listed below (with the exception of the YAR Scholarship and Pre-College Scholarship) are renewable for the four years you attend AIB, provided you maintain full-time enrollment of at least 12 credits and remain in good academic standing as defined by the AIB catalog.

Guaranteed Freshman Scholarships

AIB guarantees that you, as a first-year applicant, will be awarded a merit scholarship if you are accepted for admission and meet the following criteria. Your eligibility is based on your academic GPA, standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) on file at the time of your admission decision, and/or the artistic strength of your portfolio. 

If you have:

• both a High School GPA of 2.9 or higher and a SAT-CR + SAT-Math + SAT-Writing score of 1650 or higher, you will receive an $11,000 Dean's Scholarship.

• both an exceptional portfolio (as determined by the admissions staff) and a High School GPA of 2.9 or higher, you will receive an $11,000 Dean's Scholarship.

• a High School GPA of 3.5 or higher, you will receive a $7,500 AIB Scholarship.

• a SAT-CR + SAT-Math + SAT-Writing score of 1650 or higher, you will receive a $7,500 AIB Scholarship.

• both an exceptional portfolio (as determined by the admissions staff) and a High School GPA of 2.5 or higher, you will receive a $7,500 AIB Scholarship.

• graduated (or will graduate) from a High School in the Massachusetts cities of Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Chelsea, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn or Somerville, you will receive an $8,000 Urban Scholarship.

• previously attended AIB's Young Artist Residency Program, you will receive a one-time $1,000 YAR Scholarship.

• previously attended three or more pre-college classes, you will receive a one-time $1,000 Pre-College Scholarship.

Presidential Scholarship
Each year, one freshman is selected as an AIB Presidential Scholar.  This award is given to a student who has demonstrated extraordinary artistic talent and exceptional academic strength.  The Presidential Scholarship covers the cost of full tuition exclusive of room, board, and all fees.  A student who takes a leave of absence for more than one semester will lose the ability to have their Presidential Scholarship renewed.  In order to be considered for the AIB Presidential Scholarship, please complete your application for admission prior to the February 15th preferred deadline.

The Headmaster and guidance team will nominate six students for consideration. Nominations should be in the form of a letter of recommendation. Minimum academic criteria include a 3.3 academic GPA in a strong college prep curriculum, with a combined SAT CR + Math score of at least 1200, or an ACT Composite score of at least 27.

Nominations and all admission application materials should be received no later than February 15th. The University Scholarship Committee reviews all nominations and selects finalists. Finalists are interviewed by members of the University Scholarship Committee together with the Headmaster. Up to two Lesley University Cambridge Rindge and Latin Merit Scholars and one alternate are selected.

Boston Arts Academy Merit Scholarship
One full tuition, four-year scholarship will be awarded to graduates of the Boston Arts Academy (BAA) to pursue studies at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. Recipients must enroll full-time at The Art Institute of Boston (AIB).

BAA's Headmaster and Visual Arts faculty will nominate two or three students for consideration. Nominations should be in the form of a letter of recommendation. Minimum academic criteria include a 3.0 GPA while taking a college preparatory curriculum, a 1500 or better SAT Math plus Verbal plus Writing score (or a 21 or better ACT Composite score). Most importantly, students admitted to the Art Institute of Boston will need to demonstrate significant artistic promise, as evidenced by a portfolio submitted for admission.

Nominations should be received no later than February 15 of each year. Students' admission application materials will need to be submitted by this date as well. Nominations will be reviewed by a scholarship committee comprised of representatives from the AIB faculty, AIB Admission Office, and a Lesley University representative. The committee will interview each of the candidates during this process. Notifications of the award recipient will be sent by April 15th of each year.

Candidates who are not selected for this full scholarship do qualify for the Lesley University Urban Scholarship and may qualify for a Dean's Scholarship.

Guaranteed Transfer Merit Scholarships

If you have both an exceptional portfolio (as determined by the admissions staff) and a cumulative academic GPA of 3.0 or higher (must have completed at least one semester of 12 credits at an accredited academic institution), you will receive a $5,000 Transfer Merit  Scholarship.

You will receive a $8,000 Lesley University Community College Scholarship if you are graduating from any of Massachusetts' public Community Colleges or from the following New York Community Colleges:

• Hudson Valley Community College (NY)
• Westchester Community College (NY)

Scholarships that Extend to Graduate Study!
The Lesley Dividend...
One Free Semester of Graduate Study!
AIB students interested in pursuing an interest in art education or art therapy often find that a master's degree is a necessary, professional credential. For those who choose to immediately continue their studies at Lesley, the Lesley Dividend provides tremendous assistance. Qualified AIB students can receive up to 12 free credits of graduate study in one of Lesley's on-campus master's programs. To qualify, you must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.6 upon completion of your undergraduate studies.

For more information, visit the Lesley Dividend FAQ page.

Learn more about the need-based financial aid offered by AIB and Lesley University on our financial aid page.

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