Financial Information
Financial Aid
The Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts strives to provide financial assistance to as many students as possible. Financial aid packages most often consist of a combination of fellowships or scholarships, teaching and/or technical assistantships, and loan assistance.
An application for financial aid will have no effect on the admission decision. Financial aid awards, including merit-based scholarships, are identified through the admissions process and are based on separate considerations of academic excellence, artistic ability, and financial need. Instructions for applying for financial aid are available on the Sam Fox School's Financial Aid webpage.
Through the Sam Fox Ambassadors Graduate Fellowship Program, the School will award 10 full-tuition scholarships each year to outstanding candidates for graduate study. Ambassadors will also receive an annual $1,000 creative activity and research stipend. The tuition waiver and stipend will be renewed annually for Ambassadors in good standing. Ambassadors will be selected from top applicants to the following degree programs: Master of Architecture, Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art, Master of Fine Arts in Illustration & Visual Culture, Master of Landscape Architecture, and Master of Urban Design. Recipients will demonstrate exceptional potential for advanced studies and creative research in their discipline. In addition to the tuition waiver and stipend, Ambassadors will participate in a series of events each year designed to build deep and meaningful connections across disciplines that advance their creative work and scholarship.
A full list of merit-based scholarships and university-wide fellowships is available on the Sam Fox School website.
Fellowship, scholarship, and assistant in instruction awards are renewable for the second year of study. Students must reapply for loan assistance each year. Instructions for applying for financial aid are available on the Sam Fox School's Financial Aid webpage.
Financial Obligations
Washington University reserves the right to change the fees stated or to establish fees at any time without prior written notice. Whenever changes or additions are made, they become effective with the next payment due.
Students are responsible for fulfilling their financial obligations to the university. If a student account becomes overdue, a late payment fee will be assessed, and a hold will be placed on the account. Students with a poor payment history may be restricted from utilizing certain payment options or receiving tuition remission until course credit has been earned. Non-payment of tuition and other expenses due to the university will be cause for exclusion from class or refusal of graduation, further registration, or transfer credit. In addition, students are liable for any costs associated with the collection of their unpaid bills, including but not limited to collection agency costs, court costs, and legal fees. Past due amounts can also be reported to a credit bureau.
Withdrawals and Refunds
Students wishing to withdraw for any reason from the Graduate School of Art before the end of the semester should consult with the program chair. No such withdrawal will be official until the request in writing has been approved and the appropriate changes have been made in the student's record.
A written request for a refund must be submitted to the Sam Fox School Registrar's Office for consideration. Tuition adjustments will be processed based on the information received and according to the schedule below. Material fees for art courses will not be refunded after the course drop period for the semester.
For any student whose medical condition makes attendance for the balance of the semester impossible or medically inadvisable, the university will make a pro rata refund of tuition as of the date of withdrawal when that date occurs prior to the twelfth week of classes, provided that the condition is verified by the Habif Health and Wellness Center or a private physician. The date of withdrawal may correspond to the date of hospitalization or the date on which the medical condition was determined.
| Withdrawal Date | Refund |
|---|---|
| Within 1st or 2nd week of classes | 100% |
| Within 3rd or 4th week of classes | 80% |
| Within 5th or 6th week of classes | 60% |
| Within 7th or 8th week of classes | 50% |
| Within 9th or 10th week of classes | 40% |
| After 10th week of classes | 0% |
Summer Withdrawals and Refunds
The Sam Fox School reserves the right to cancel a course if it has not enrolled enough students by the first day of class. If a course is canceled, all enrolled students will be notified and dropped from the class, and they will not be charged tuition and fees.
If a course is not canceled, a student may be released from their obligation to pay full tuition and fees by canceling their registration according to the schedule below:
| Withdrawal Date | Refund |
|---|---|
| Prior to the first class meeting | 100% tuition + fees |
| Prior to 15% of published meeting dates | 100% |
| Prior to 30% of published meeting dates | 80% |
| Prior to 45% of published meeting dates | 60% |
| Prior to 60% of published meeting dates | 40% |
| After 61% of published meeting dates | 0% |
Requests for refunds must be made in writing to the Sam Fox School Registrar's Office.
Students may drop a summer course without penalty through the 80% tuition refund deadline, and they may withdraw from a course through the 40% tuition refund deadline.