The Art Students League is committed to keeping tuition affordable for anyone pursuing their art journey. In addition to our affordable monthly tuition, which represents only about half of the actual cost of classes, the League has several scholarships and grants available for students to apply for additional tuition relief.
Every student at the League benefits from our affordable monthly tuition, which represents only about half of the actual cost of classes. Additionally, students are eligible to apply for tuition relief through the League's merit-based scholarships and grants.
Unless otherwise stated, grants cover the cost of tuition for one year of full time study at the League plus a cash award, and are open only to students who are League members in good standing. The League's scholarships cover the cost tuition for full or part time study and are open to all current students as well as prospective new students who have not attended classes at the League before.
The League’s scholarship program is historic. It has continued to grow each year with renewed involvement from donors and foundations, as well as existing the legacy scholarship funds that have been the foundation of this program from decades.
Notable artists who have received League scholarships include Norman Rockwell, James Rosenquist, Tschabalala Self, and more.
Applications for scholarships and grants open in the Spring of each year. See our Application Guidelines for information about the application process and eligibility.
Applications for Scholarships and Grants are currently closed.
Generally, League scholarships are open to anyone who wishes to apply. Grants are typically reserved for current League students and members. Individual scholarships and grants may have their own specific criteria. For more information about a particular award or eligibility requirements, see our Submittable application above.
Generally, applicants must submit three digital images of artwork to be judged with their application. Artworks in multiple panels (diptych, triptych) must be submitted as single image files. Individual works of sculpture may be photographed from multiple angles, but must be submitted as a single image file. Our Submittable application above, which includes the full details of our application requirements.
You do not have to be League member or have studied at the League in order to apply for a League scholarship. To be eligible for a grant from League, you have be a League member in good standing.
Unfortunately, prior Merit Scholarship recipients are ineligible to apply for an additional scholarship. Past recipients of a specific grant may not reapply for the same grant, but may apply for other grants—the only grant that is an exception to this rule is the Nessa Cohen grant.
When applying for a Merit Scholarship, students must apply in one of three categories (Realism, Abstract, or Semi-Abstract/Semi-Objective).
Eligibility for grants is keyed to your area of concentration. For example, students who have been registered only in a sculpture class will not be eligible for painting grants.
Eligible students may apply for any number of grants, but may receive only one award during the competition. Students who apply for more than one grant, and subsequently win an award, will be withdrawn from other awards of lesser value. Students winning a scholarship and then a grant automatically cede the award of lesser value.
League Grants will only be awarded to League members in good standing.
Nessa Cohen Grant for students not registered in painting or pastel classes
Harvey & Lois Dinnerstein Grant for Realism
The Bruce Dorfman Grant for Assemblage/Mixed Media
Xavier Gonzalez and Ethel Edwards Travel Grant for students of painting for travel and study in Spain
The Kuniyoshi Award for students of painting or printmaking
Ann and Bruno Lucchesi Grant for students of traditional figurative sculpture in clay
Gregory Lysun Grant for students of painting working in a representational style
Phyllis H. Mason Grant for students of painting working in a representational style
Doreta Kesson Masterton Grant for students of painting working in a representational style
Edward G. McDowell Travel Grant for unmarried students available for travel and study in Europe
Donn Russell Grant for artist materials
Lloyd Sherwood Grant for a student working in a nonobjective style in oil, acrylic, or mixed media
Merit Scholarships are open to anyone who wishes to apply.
The American Artists Professional League Scholarship for students of realism
Ruth Katzman Scholarship, in loving memory of her parents, Lilian and Max Katzman
Ezra Jack Keats Scholarships for Illustration (2) for BIPOC artists with an interest in children’s book illustration
Richard Lahey and Carlotta Gonzales Lahey Memorial Scholarship
Richard Lillis Memorial Scholarship
Reginald Marsh and Felicia Meyer Marsh Scholarship
The Henri Matisse Estate Scholarship
Anthony Palumbo Scholarship for figurative drawing
Charlotte Howard Porter Scholarship
Portraits for Good Scholarship for BIPOC artists working in figurative painting
Ruth Price Memorial Scholarship
Jordan H. Prince Scholarship
George A. Rada Memorial Scholarship for artists working in the realist tradition
John M. Regan Jr. Scholarship
Martha T. Rosen Memorial Scholarship
Leonard Rosenfeld Scholarship
Hillard Schneider Scholarship for sculpture
The Adam and Susan Strider Scholarship for watercolor
Richard Tweedy Drawing Scholarship
Sol Tanne Scholarship Ventura Family Scholarship for printmaking
Charles Blaze Vukovich Scholarship
Vaclav Vytlacil Memorial Scholarship, gift of Dr. Henry L. Segal and Evelyn Buff Segal
Davyd Whaley Memorial Scholarship for abstract painting
Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Scholarship for women
Norma Adler Scholarship for students of abstract art
Adolf H. and Ada Aldrich Scholarship for students of realism and semi-realism
American Watercolor Society Scholarship
Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation Scholarship
Elizabeth Cady Stanton Blake Scholarship
Elizabeth A. Clarke Scholarship
The Ronnie Cutler Award for students of oil painting
Janet and Russell Doubleday Scholarship
Margaret Stefan Draughon Scholarships
The Joe Eula Scholarship for artists whose work focuses on drawing
Vivian A. Frankel Scholarship for sculptors
Trudy and Henry Gillette Painting Scholarship
Trudy and Henry Gillette Sculpture Scholarship
Sidney Glusman Scholarship
Denise Suzanne Golinger Scholarship
Ray E. Goodbred Memorial Scholarship Fund, in memory of Rose Raymond Goodbred and Edward Stone Goodbred
Roberta Goode Scholarship
Margo L. H. Hammerschlag Scholarship
Ardis Hughes Scholarship
Antoinette Jacoby Scholarship
James C. Johnson Scholarship for sculptors
The Zena Kaplan Scholarship for women
Gerda Karr Scholarship for sculptors
Additional needs-based tuition relief is available through our Director's Scholarship and our work-study program. The Director's Scholarships is a need-based program that awards scholarships at the discretion of the administration.
To be considered for a Director's Scholarship, please email Tom Tacik, at tom@artstudentsleague.org.
The work-study program was established to assist artists who demonstrate financial need and artistic merit. Work-study applications are accepted throughout the year and are available on a limited basis. Once awarded, the applicant works four hours per week at the League in exchange for a scholarship that covers approximately 75% of the monthly class tuition for one school year (September through May). Scholarship recipients are responsible to pay the remaining balance of the class fee and all other fees applicable during time of monthly registration. The Work-Study Coordinator assigns work-study scholarships.
To be considered for a the Work-Study program, please email Astrid Rodriguez, at astrid@artstudentsleague.org.
Thank you to our generous supporters!
Mary S. Litt and the Litt Foundation
Janine Luke Fund, in memory of Nina Schick
The Gloria Caruso Murray Scholarship Fund
The National Association of Women Artists
The New York Foundation in honor of Maria Mottola
The Pastel Society of America
The Sara Roby Scholarship Fund
Sidney Simon Memorial Fund
Theodore Adam Smith, in memory of his brother, Robert L. Smith
The Stillman-Lack Foundation, in memory of Ary Stillman
Benedict M. Tatti Scholarship Fund, established by the Tatti Family
Sydney Taylor Memorial Scholarship Fund, established by Ada Abrams
Doreen Booker Bibro Scholarship for women over 40.
Funding for the Work-Study Scholarship Program has been made possible by generous League supporters over the years including:
William and Doris Adelman Memorial Scholarship Fund
John D. Alexander in memory of M. Zelwian
Edward E. Block Martha Moore and Louis A. Burnett Olin Dows Estate
Peter and Jane Coleman
Jacques and Natasha Gelman Trust
Edward Gilbert Estate
Emilie I. Guntrum
Helen Herman
Hans and Dr. Emma I. Jacoby
Kathleen I. Kudra Award
The Hans Langhammer Family Scholarship Fun
Naming a scholarship or grant is a very meaningful way to honor a cherished family member or friend. To inquire about establishing a grant or scholarship, please email Elizabeth Kingman, Director of Development at ekingman@artstudentsleague.org