PVA Scholarships

General Financial Aid Info

• UNC Office of Financial Aid

  The Office of Financial Aid connects you and your family to financial solutions such as grants, scholarships, student employment, and loans to help you bridge the gap between what you can afford to pay for your college expenses and the cost of attending.

  UNC Office of Financial Aid

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid

  Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at FAFSA.gov to be considered for the maximum amount of financial aid. Applying is free, and aid is awarded to most students, ranging from those with demonstrated financial need to students with a record of high achievement as well as those who might need some Federal loan assistance.

• Colorado Application for State Financial Aid

  The Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA) is for students who are considered DREAMers (Undocumented or DACA recipients). Students who are eligible for Federal Title IV aid by completing the FAFSA should not complete the CASFA.

• Western Undergraduate Exchange

  WUE allows students who hold residency in a participating state to pay tuition at a maximum of 150% the resident tuition rate, a savings of over $6,000 per year.

  Learn more about WUE

  

School of Art and Design Scholarships & Portfolios

The School of Art and Design awards over $200,000 in scholarships each year. New and returning UNC students are required to submit a portfolio through the School of Art and Design portfolio submission form to be considered for talent-based and foundation scholarships, as well as fill out the UNC Scholarship Application. Art scholarships are only available to students majoring in Art and Design.

Art & Design Portfolio Submission Form

• Portfolio Guidelines

  To be considered for an Art and Design scholarship, you must submit a PDF portfolio containing five examples of your artwork and the following requirements:

  Include the following materials in a single PDF document:

  • Cover Page
  • • First and last name
  • List and descriptions of artwork
    • Title of each work
    • Media used
    • Description of each piece (50 words or less)
  • Images of artwork
    • Include five different pieces
    • One piece per page
    • Include only one image of each piece
  • Statement of Educational Goals
    • Between 250 and 500 words
• Recommendations
  • Scan/photograph flatwork (drawings, paintings, etc.) to fill the digital image completely. Do not include a border, matte, or frame.
  • We strongly encourage incoming first-year students to include work in a variety of media.
  • If you are submitting video, animation, or other time-based work, please include a web link in your PDF.
  • If you have an online portfolio or professional website, you may include a link on your cover page.
• Tips for Documenting Your Portfolio
  • Photograph your work on a large smooth neutral solid-colored background (gray or beige) without distracting textures.
  • Do not shoot your artwork on a pure white or black background (the dramatically light or dark color of the background will interfere with your camera’s internal metering system and produce an under- or over-exposed image).
  • Shoot your work so that it is perpendicular to the camera lens. Otherwise, the lens will create unusual distortions.
  • When shooting two-dimensional pieces, it may be easier to lay your work on the ground and position yourself above the work. Using a ladder or tripod may help you position yourself high enough to avoid cropping any of the artwork. Large work may need to be propped up on a support and shot straight on.
  • When shooting three-dimensional work, make sure to position the work carefully for the most descriptive point of view. This may require positioning yourself above or below the work, or shooting an additional view from a different vantage point.
  • Shoot tightly, emphasizing the piece you are shooting. Pay attention to everything in your frame. Do not include mattes, frames or distracting background elements.
  • Do not shoot any framed artwork under glass. The camera will capture distracting highlights and reflections in the glass.
  • Shoot your work outdoors, preferably on an overcast day. Do not shoot in a bright sunny location. The sunlight will create extreme highlights and distracting shadows. If you cannot shoot on an overcast day, then place your work on the north side of a building, again to avoid extreme lighting.
  • If your camera has manual controls, you should “bracket” your exposures, meaning you should shoot at the camera’s suggested meter reading as well as shooting two additional frames, one under and one over the suggested meter reading. For example, if your automatic setting records the piece at f/11, shoot another at f/16 and another at f/8.
  • Ask your art teacher for assistance if you are unsure about capturing good quality images for your portfolio.
• Portfolio Templates

  You are welcome, but not required, to use one of our templates to create your scholarship portfolio. If you choose to use a template, you may modify it as you see fit.

  • Microsoft Word Template
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Template
  • PDF Template
• Creating a PDF

  There are several ways to create a PDF file. You are welcome to use whatever software you prefer, as long as the final product is saved as a PDF.

  PDF Tutorials:

  • Microsoft Word
  • Micosoft PowerPoint
  • Adobe InDesign
  • Adobe Acrobat

  Online PDF Converters
  A variety of online PDF converters are available for free. Many of these converters will allow you to upload a file (such as an image, PowerPoint, or HTML file) and convert it to a PDF automatically. Be careful that you are using a reputable and safe file conversion service if you choose to find one online. We do not recommend any particular site or service.

School of Music Scholarships & Assistantships

Undergraduate New Student Scholarships

Several scholarships are available through the School of Music. Your admission audition will serve as a music talent scholarship audition. You do not need to complete a form to be considered for a School of Music talent scholarship as all music majors are automatically considered for talent awards, however, it is required to fill out the UNC Scholarship Application if you would like to be considered for additional foundation awards. Recommendations for music talent scholarships are made by the faculty in each applied area and are finalized by the Director of the School of Music. Scholarship offers are sent to your mailing address in April.

Undergraduate Returning Student Scholarships

All returning students who would like to be eligible for new scholarships as well as renewing current scholarships must complete the required UNC Scholarship Application each academic year.

Graduate Scholarships and Assistantships

Your admission audition/interview will serve as a music talent scholarship/assistantship audition. Recommendations for music talent scholarships and assistantships are made by the faculty in each applied area and are finalized by the Director of the School of Music. Assistantships carry a stipend and up to full tuition support. 

School of Theatre Arts and Dance Scholarships

Undergraduate New Student Scholarships

In addition to university-level academic and foundation scholarships, the School of Theatre Arts and Dance also offers talent scholarship opportunities. To be eligible for talent scholarship consideration, you must be admitted to a program within the School of Theatre Arts and Dance. For the BFA Musical Theatre, BFA Acting, BFA Design & Technology, and BA Theatre Education majors, your audition and/or interview for admittance into the program will also serve as the evaluation method for talent scholarship consideration and no additional audition or interview is needed. The final step in the talent scholarship process is to complete the UNC Scholarship Application in your URSA account. Please note: you must have been admitted via the university application to access your URSA account. For talent scholarship consideration for the BA Theatre Studies major, a scholarship interview is required. Please send an email to PVA.Admissions@unco.edu if you would like to schedule a talent scholarships interview for Theatre Studies.

Undergraduate Returning Student Scholarships

All returning students who would like to be eligible for new scholarships as well as renewing current scholarships must complete the required UNC Scholarship Application each academic year.