///////

Visual and Performing Arts Scholarships

Navigation
Department of Art and Design Scholarship

The Department of Art and Design scholarship is awarded to first-year, full-time students who enroll in a four-year degree program in any major in the Department of Art and Design. Receipt of the scholarship is based on a review of the applicant portfolio, which shows exceptional promise in the visual arts field. It is renewable each year if the applicant remains enrolled in a four-year program in our department.

The department offers Bachelor of Fine Arts degree programs in art education and visual arts — concentrations in fine arts, graphic design and photography — and a Bachelor of Arts in visual arts.

To apply for an Art and Design Scholarship, applicants must follow the application guidelines. Failure to follow the guidelines may result in disqualification for consideration. Decisions made by the Department of Art and Design are final.

Selected students will see the award on their transparent financial aid offer.

Note: To be eligible, a student must have submitted an application for admission to the University of Dayton.

For further information on the department, our degree programs or our scholarships, please contact Joel Whitaker.

Application Guidelines

The following guidelines are for the preparation of the Art and Design Scholarship application for applicants presenting a Portfolio of Visual Work.

  1. Work in any medium or combination of media is acceptable. Applicants my submit 12 to 15 works.
  2. Images of art work must be submitted digitally as jpeg and not to exceed 2 MB in size.
  3. The completed inventory sheet (PDF) and all image files should be placed in a folder labeled with the applicant's name, date and 2025 A&D Scholarship Application (JayneSmith_2025_A&DScholarship). The title of each image file or .jpg should begin with applicant's last name then a number (ex. Smith01, Smith02, Smith03, etc.) to ensure proper viewing order.
  4. Work not easily conveyed by still image (e.g., time-based, interactive or animated work), should be placed in a separate folder. This folder must be clearly labeled as distinct from the applicant's other images. These file sizes should be kept to a minimum size. Any use of sound should be integral to a particular work (such as video, interactive or animated works).
  5. All work must be original, produced entirely by the applicant and made within the past two years. Images must be of high quality, i.e. sharp, properly exposed, accurate in color, with neutral backgrounds. Inferior images will seriously compromise our ability to evaluate the work.
  6. The works should be listed in the order they are to be viewed in the applicant's application.

Submission Directions
  1. Submit completed application via email to: Jenna Bryant, jbryant2@udayton.edu.
  2. In the subject heading of the application email include: Applicant's Name and 2025 A&D First Year Scholarship Application.
  3. Application materials must be received via email by 4:30 p.m., Monday, November 3, 2025.

Performing Arts Scholarship

The University of Dayton recognizes the talent of students who contribute to our performing arts community with Performing Arts Scholarships. Incoming full-time first-year, transfer and UD Sinclair Academy students who complete an audition by mid February are eligible for the award.

The award is renewable each year by remaining enrolled in the music B.A., music B.M. or theatre, dance and performance technology B.A. programs and participating in ensembles as assigned by the department.

Music, Theatre, Dance or Performing Arts Majors

Students admitted to a program in our music or theatre, dance and performance technology departments can receive a Performing Arts Scholarship worth $2,500 per year for four years.

  • Bachelor of Music majors will automatically be awarded the Performing Arts Scholarship in your upfront financial aid offer. However, if you do not fulfill the audition requirement, you will receive a revised financial aid offer removing the scholarship.
  • Music B.A. and theatre, dance and performance technology B.A. majors can audition to be considered for the scholarship.

Other Majors

Students enrolled in majors outside the music or theatre, dance and performance technology departments who audition and agree to participate in assigned ensembles can receive a scholarship worth $1,000 per year.

How to Apply for a Performing Arts Scholarship (All Students)

  1. Apply for admission.
  2. Schedule your music audition.

Students should file the FAFSA to be considered for all financial aid options.

George Koenig Memorial Scholarship

Established by the University of Dayton Band Alumni, this scholarship is awarded to an outstanding music education major in the Pride of Dayton Marching Band.

Contact Department of Visual and Performing Arts
300 College Park
Dayton, Ohio 45469 - 2946
937-229-3936 email