MFA in USA - Colleges, Fees, Eligibility
MFA in USA for Indian Students - Universities, Colleges, Fees 2026, Deadlines
Master of Fine Arts in USA: Master of Fine Arts will allow the students to gain in-depth knowledge and competence in various fields such as Art and Technology Studies, Ceramics, Fiber and Material Studies, Photography, etc. Students can pursue their careers as independent artists or professional practitioners. There are various career options such as that of Digital Artist, Digital Sculptor, Multimedia Designer, Production Artist, etc. In addition to this, the US provides good placement opportunities in this field along with a strong economy, and high living standards. According to Payscale, the average annual salary of a student holding Master of Fine Arts degree is $64,000 and can be in the range from $39,000 to $165,000.
Master of Fine Arts in USA: Master of Fine Arts will allow the students to gain in-depth knowledge and competence in various fields such as Art and Technology Studies, Ceramics, Fiber and Material Studies, Photography, etc. Students can pursue their careers as independent artists or professional practitioners. There are various career options such as that of Digital Artist, Digital Sculptor, Multimedia Designer, Production Artist, etc. In addition to this, the US provides good placement opportunities in this field along with a strong economy, and high living standards. According to Payscale, the average annual salary of a student holding Master of Fine Arts degree is $64,000 and can be in the range from $39,000 to $165,000.
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Highlights
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Top 10 Universities
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Popular Specializations
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Cost
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Student Visa
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Eligibility Criteria
- Work Permit after Master of Fine Arts in USA
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Scholarships
- Master of Fine Arts in USA Jobs and Salaries
Master of Fine Arts in USA Highlights
| Head |
Details |
|---|---|
| Number of Universities in USA Offering Master of Fine Arts |
Approx. 85 Universities |
| Master of Fine Arts in USA Fees (1st Year Average of 87 Universities) |
INR 28 Lakhs |
| Top Specializations |
Documentary Film and Video, Digital Technology, Information Design and Data Visualization, Creative Writing, Sound Art, Film & Television, etc. |
| Exams Required |
Master of Fine Arts in USA Top 10 Universities
The table given below provides the top 10 universities in USA that offer Master of Fine Arts. Their 1st year tuition fee and QS World University Rankings are also provided:
| University |
Tuition Fee (1st Year) |
QS World University Rankings 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| INR 45 L |
3 |
|
| INR 46 L |
13 |
|
| INR 35 L - 53 L |
18 |
|
| INR 24 L |
20 |
|
| INR 54 L |
22 |
|
| INR 42 L - 43 L |
25 |
|
| INR 22 L |
27 |
|
| INR 29 L - 67 L |
39 |
Master of Fine Arts in USA Popular Specializations
Students who wish to pursue Master of Fine Arts can choose from a wide range electives and specializations. Some of the specializations are given in the table below:
| Design for Responsible Innovation |
Digital Art & Design |
Creative Writing |
| Visual Communication Design |
Experimental & Documentary Arts |
Theatre Arts |
| Digital Cinema Production |
Architecture, Interior Architecture, and Designed Objects |
Film, Video, New Media, and Animation |
| Photography |
Sound |
Visual Communication Design |
Master of Fine Arts in USA Cost
The cost of pursuing Master of Fine Arts in USA includes application fee, visa fee, tuition fee, living costs, and other miscellaneous charges. Students must note that their living costs will depend on their lifestyle, location, and other factors. The average 1st year tuition fee and 1-year living costs are given below:
- Average Tuition Fee (1st Year) based on an average of 87 universities is INR 28 Lakhs
- Average Living Cost for 1 year stands at INR 8.79 Lakhs
(Source: studyabroad.shiksha.com)
Master of Fine Arts in USA Student Visa
There are three types of student visa in the US: F-1 Visa, M-1 Visa, and J-1 Visa. For a student to attend a college or university, he/she requires F Category Visa. It can be issued up to 120 days before the beginning date of your academic program. However, students cannot enter the US 30 days before the beginning date of their program. The expiration date of your program will be listed in the I-20 form provided by your university. The application fee for the US study visa is $160.
Master of Fine Arts in USA Eligibility Criteria
Students who plan on pursuing Master of Fine Arts in USA need to fulfill certain basic requirements such as:
- X and XII Formal Schooling
- Graduation
- GRE scores (depends on the University)
- English-language Proficiency Test Scores of TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE
- Resume
- Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Some universities as for Samples of Creative Work
Work Permit after Master of Fine Arts in USA
Post-Study Work Permit is a crucial factor for students who are pursuing or wish to pursue their higher education from the US. F-1 Visa holders can apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) before and after the completion of their studies. With OPT, students can stay back and work for 1-year after completing their degree. STEM graduates can request for 24 months of additional work.
Master of Fine Arts in USA Scholarships
Students can apply for various scholarships in order to reduce their overall costs. Some of the scholarships are given below:
- Paul Haarman Shift Scholarship: Maximum scholarship amount per student is USD 2,500
- QS Scholarship For Academic Excellence: Maximum scholarship amount per student is USD 10,000
- Golden Key Graduate Scholar Award: Maximum scholarship amount per student is USD 2,500
- GVD Renovations Scholarship: Maximum scholarship amount per student is USD 1,000
- Brian Colombana Scholarship: Maximum scholarship amount per student is USD 1,000
Master of Fine Arts in USA Jobs and Salaries
Students who pursue Master of Fine Arts in USA get placed in various job profiles such as Graphic Designer, Art Director, Art Teacher, Product Designer, etc. Some of the job profiles and their corresponding salaries are given below. The data has been sourced from Payscale:
| Job Title |
Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Interior Designer |
USD 58,056 |
| Graphic Designer |
USD 57,582 |
| Creative Director |
USD 97,310 |
| UX Designer |
USD 84,157 |
| Senior Graphic Designer |
USD 69,269 |
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MFA in USA for Indian Students - Universities, Colleges, Fees 2026, Deadlines
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
378 students got admitted to this university
Commonly asked questions On MFA in USA - Colleges, Fees, Eligibility
A. The first-year tuition fees range to study MFA in USA is INR 10 Lakh – INR 40 lakh. Some of the universities have the tuition fee above INR 40 lakh+. A majority of the universities have first-year tuition fees ranging from INR 20 Lakh – INR 40 lakh. The tuition fees for some of the universities can be checked from the table given below:
Universities | 1st-Year Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
Yale University | INR 35.1 L - INR 53.3 L |
University of California – Berkeley Campus | INR 22.2 L |
Columbia University | INR 54 L |
Cornell University | INR 24.5 L |
Stanford University | INR 45 L |
Some of the top specializations for MFA in USA are:
- Creative & Professional Writing
- Fashion Design
- Direction
- Screenplay Writing
- Film Making
Some of the universities may ask for GRE to study Masters of Fine Arts in USA. Out of 140 universities, only 4 universities accept GRE scores. The universities that accept GRE are:
- American University
- University of Tennessee
- University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Governors State University
Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
Commonly asked questions On MFA in USA - Colleges, Fees, Eligibility
The entry requirements that are required to study MFA programs in USA are:
- Formal Schooling
- Graduation
- English language proficiency score
- GRE score (if applicable)
- Statement of Purpose
- Letters of Recommendation
- Resume
- Samples of creative work (if applicable)
IELTS / TOEFL / PTE / Duolingo scores are accepted for MFA in USA. A breakdown of the universities accepting English language test scores are given below:
Tests | No. of Universities |
|---|---|
IELTS | 112 |
TOEFL | 97 |
PTE | 40 |
Duolingo | 28 |
Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
Commonly asked questions On MFA in USA - Colleges, Fees, Eligibility
If we talk about the locations where MFA programme is offered in the USA, then California tops the list. A majority of the universities for MFA in USA are located in California namely UCLA, Stanford University, San Diego State University, San Jose State University, University of Southern California, California State University Long Beach, Academy of Art University, etc. Other MFA universities in the USA are located in New York, Texas, Illinois, Florida, etc.
According to Payscale, the average base salary of a MFA graduate in USA is USD 69,000 per year (Around INR 57 lakh). MFA average salaries as per the job titles are listed below:
Job Title | Average Salary |
|---|---|
Interior Designer | USD 58,056 |
Graphic Designer | USD 57,582 |
Creative Director | USD 97,310 |
UX Designer | USD 84,157 |
Senior Graphic Designer | USD 69,269 |
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
6 students got admitted to this university
We can fast-track your application in a week.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Chapel Hill, USAPublic13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
Providence, USAPrivate13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
13.7K+ students got admitted through us.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
17 students got admitted to this university
We can fast-track your application in a week.
We can fast-track your application in a week.
Guided 4.4K students to USA universities.
