Application deadline
1 March 2027
Basic application process; decisions are released on a rolling basis.
In-person Program
Art Pre-College Program
by Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs
CMU’s art summer program combines college-level studio courses, individual critique and portfolio development to help students test their artistic ideas and understand art-school expectations.
Last verified: 5 Oct 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
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Art Pre-College Program at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility
Current status
Applications open
Eligibility
Current high school sophomores or juniors
Age range / Year group
Ages 16+
Location / Region
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
Cost
$6,184; $7,945; $9,039; $12,204
Duration
3 or 6 weeks
Format
In-person
ArtTechnology
Class size: Small classes
Accommodation: CMU residence halls
Meals: Most meals through dining plan
Campus experience: Fine Arts studios; fabrication facilities
Academic credit: Non-credit
Portfolio reviews: 20–30 minutes with art faculty
Independent work: 8–10 hours weekly
Art Pre-College Program summary
CMU’s Art program offers a practical preview of undergraduate studio study, combining technical instruction with conceptual experimentation.
Students make artwork, take part in critiques and explore elective workshops, with opportunities for individual faculty portfolio reviews.
It suits students who want to test their commitment to art school and can respond constructively to demanding studio work.
What is Art Pre-College Program?
The Art Pre-College Program introduces students to Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Art through college-level studio practice. It combines traditional tools and emerging technologies with individual instruction, critiques, demonstrations and lectures. The emphasis is on developing both technical skills and a personal approach to making art.
Students study Drawing, Sculpture, Animation and Concept Studio in the first session. The longer option adds Painting, Physical Computing, Printmaking and continued Concept Studio. Elective workshops and informal portfolio reviews help students experiment beyond familiar media and practice explaining their work.
Why Succeed highlights Art Pre-College Program
Concept Studio asks students to develop ideas and meaning alongside technical ability.
Small classes and individual critiques make feedback a central part of the studio experience.
Informal faculty portfolio reviews provide useful practice for future art-school interviews and reviews.
Access to university studios and fabrication facilities offers a concrete preview of undergraduate art study.
Who is Art Pre-College Program for?
Best for
Students considering art school who want sustained studio practice, constructive critique and experience developing their own artistic ideas.
Not ideal if
You want a light recreational art course, college credit or an admissions advantage at CMU.
Is Art Pre-College Program worth it?
This program is worth considering when the main goal is to test art-school study and improve the thinking behind a portfolio. The combination of sustained making, individual critique and faculty review gives students useful feedback on both their work and their readiness for demanding studio study.
The workload is substantial, and portfolio-quality results depend on a student’s effort and completion. It is non-credit and offers no influence on CMU undergraduate admission, so families should judge the experience by artistic development rather than university branding.
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A practical overview of cost, accommodation, meals, dates and provider details to review before deciding.
Cost and what is included
$6,184; $7,945; $9,039; $12,204; includes College-level classes taught by accomplished CMU faculty., Art material kits tailored to individual classes., Campus housing for residential students., Campus dining, covering most weekly meals., CMU ID card with Arts Pass museum access., Pittsburgh Regional Transit access., Scheduled airport shuttles for students traveling alone..
Accommodation
CMU residence halls
Meals
Most meals through dining plan
Supervision or safety information
Students can live in CMU residence halls with trained residential staff. Pre-College provides 24-hour supervision and access to campus health and wellness services, alongside campus police and an emergency help line.
Provider details
Review the Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs provider page and official sources before making a final decision.
Dates and logistics
3 or 6 weeks; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States.
What to check before committing
Confirm current dates, payment terms, travel arrangements, cancellation rules and what is included with the provider.
Compare this program with similar options before deciding on dates, cost, format and fit.
Compare with similar programsHow much preparation does Art Pre-College Program need?
Effort level
High.
Best started
Six to eight weeks before your applicable February or March application deadline.
Main challenge
Sustaining studio work while responding thoughtfully to critique.
Typical preparation
Request your recommendation and gather your unofficial transcript early.
Draft the essay and three short answers around your artistic interests and goals.
If submitting artwork samples, select 5–10 images and assemble one PDF.
Plan housing, immigration eligibility and required supplies before committing to travel.
Useful if
You want to test the intensity of undergraduate art study.
What do students do on Art Pre-College Program?
You develop artwork through taught studio courses, independent practice and critique. Concept Studio adds readings, writing and collaborative assignments to help you explore what your work communicates.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Begin with Drawing, Sculpture, Animation and Concept Studio.
- 2
Develop assignments through demonstrations, studio work and individual feedback.
- 3
Explore elective workshop topics on Fridays.
- 4
Complete independent projects outside class and use nightly open studios.
- 5
Take an optional one-on-one faculty portfolio review.
- 6
Participate in the Session One exhibition; six-week students continue into additional courses.
Art Pre-College Program dates and deadlines
Upcoming
Art — 3-week option
26 June-17 July 2027
Session One; four classes and a student exhibition.
Art — 6-week option
27 June-7 August 2027
Both sessions; eight classes. Domestic residential move-in precedes the Art page's listed start.
Scholarship decisions
1 April 2027
Fixed scholarship decision release.
International move-in
25 June 2027
Residential international students arrive between 8:00 am and 9:00 pm.
Domestic move-in
26 June 2027
Opening Day check-in runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
First classes
28 June 2027
Central Pre-College schedule identifies the first instructional day.
| Milestone | Date | Timezone | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Application deadline | 1 March 2027 | Local | Upcoming | Save deadline |
Art — 3-week option | 26 June-17 July 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Art — 6-week option | 27 June-7 August 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Scholarship decisions | 1 April 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
International move-in | 25 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
Domestic move-in | 26 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming | |
First classes | 28 June 2027 | Local | Upcoming |
Eligibility and requirements
Be at least 16 by June 26, 2027.
Be a current high school sophomore or junior when applying.
Have a strong interest in art.
Commuters must meet CMU’s permanent local residence requirements.
Meet English proficiency requirements when applicable.
International students need an appropriate immigration status.
Scholarships require financial need and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
How much does Art Pre-College Program cost?
Application fee
$75 — Waived for qualifying scholarship applications; otherwise non-refundable.
Funding or discounts
- 3-week residential: $7,945 — 2026 reference fee.
- 3-week commuter: $6,184 — 2026 reference fee.
- 6-week residential: $12,204 — 2026 reference fee.
- 6-week commuter: $9,039 — 2026 reference fee.
- Enrollment deposit: $800 — Non-refundable; deducted from the program balance.
- Need-based scholarship: Tuition, housing and dining — Financial need and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency required.
- Scholarship deposit: $100 — Available for campus spending through the student’s CMU ID.
What's included
College-level classes taught by accomplished CMU faculty., Art material kits tailored to individual classes., Campus housing for residential students., Campus dining, covering most weekly meals., CMU ID card with Arts Pass museum access., Pittsburgh Regional Transit access., Scheduled airport shuttles for students traveling alone.
How to apply to Art Pre-College Program
- 1
Complete the official Pre-College online application and select Art in your program preferences.
- 2
Upload your most recent unofficial transcript and request one recommendation through the application.
- 3
Submit the required 300–500-word essay and three 150–200-word short answers.
- 4
Optionally upload 5–10 artwork images in one PDF and standardized test scores.
- 5
Request scholarship consideration and provide financial documentation if applicable.
- 6
Submit required English proficiency scores when applicable and pay any required application fee.
- 7
If admitted, submit the enrollment reply and applicable deposit within seven days.
- 8
Complete CMU account setup, enrollment paperwork and health requirements.
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What does Art Pre-College Program cover?
The program covers the following focus areas.
Drawing and Sculpture
Session One develops technical and conceptual practice through Drawing and Sculpture studio courses.
Animation
Students take Animation as one of the four Session One courses.
Concept Studio
Readings, writing, collaboration and individual artworks develop personal approaches to creative ideas and meaning.
Painting and Printmaking
Six-week students expand their studio practice through Painting and Printmaking in Session Two.
Physical Computing
Session Two includes Physical Computing alongside continued Concept Studio for six-week students.
Curriculum may be adjusted based on participant interests and current developments.
What is a typical day on Art Pre-College Program?
A typical day during the program.
Studio classes
Classes run 9:00 am–12:00 pm.
Studio classes
Classes run 1:00–4:00 pm, bringing scheduled class time to 24 hours weekly.
Elective workshops
Students choose workshop topics during orientation; workshop work is not evaluated.
Independent projects
Students should expect to use nightly open studios to complete work outside class.
Who teaches on Art Pre-College Program?
Accomplished artists with experience teaching teenagers and university students lead the Art courses. Undergraduate teaching assistants from CMU’s Bachelor of Fine Arts program support instructors and students, while faculty, CMU-affiliated artists and Pittsburgh experts contribute to workshops.
Small classes support individual attention and substantial constructive feedback.
Where do students stay on Art Pre-College Program?
Residential plan
- Campus residence halls: Students can live in CMU residence halls with trained residential staff supervision.
- Campus dining: The dining plan covers most meals, with vegan, vegetarian, kosher and Halal options.
- Supervision and wellness: Pre-College provides 24-hour supervision and access to campus health and wellness services.
- Arts and city access: The CMU ID includes an Arts Pass and Pittsburgh Regional Transit access.
Non-residential plan
- Local commuter option: Eligible local students can attend as commuters while taking the same core coursework.
The Art page includes Allegheny County in its commuter criteria; central admissions specifies permanent residence within approximately 30 miles of campus.
What happens after Art Pre-College Program?
After completing this program, participants often pursue:
Develop portfolio-quality artwork through sustained course assignments.
Receive faculty feedback to guide further artistic development.
Practice discussing your work in an informal portfolio review.
Contribute to the Session One student exhibition.
Build a clearer understanding of undergraduate art-school expectations.
Portfolio quality depends on effort and completion; the program is non-credit and does not influence CMU undergraduate admission.
Where does Art Pre-College Program take place?
The program takes place at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, using College of Fine Arts studios and School of Art fabrication facilities. CMU provides scheduled airport shuttles for students traveling alone and transit access for getting around the city.
Art Pre-College Program FAQs
The three-week option covers Session One, includes four classes and culminates in a student exhibition. The six-week option includes both sessions, eight classes and additional coursework and mentorship. Students cannot join only the second three-week session.
Classes meet Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am–12:00 pm and 1:00–4:00 pm. Friday brings morning and afternoon elective workshops. Students should expect another 8–10 hours of project work each week outside class.
No. Art is a non-credit program offering college-level studio experience and a preview of undergraduate art study.
Yes. The Art page requires students and their parent or guardian to have a permanent residence within approximately 30 miles of the Pittsburgh campus or within Allegheny County. Central admissions specifies the approximately 30-mile requirement and does not allow exceptions.
Students can live in CMU residence halls with trained residential staff. Pre-College provides 24-hour supervision and access to campus health and wellness services, alongside campus police and an emergency help line.
Class material kits are included. Students must bring sketchbooks, a large portfolio and documentation of previous artwork for portfolio review. A laptop with Adobe Creative Suite is recommended, rather than required.
CMU states that Pre-College admission has no influence on undergraduate admission. The Art experience can still provide portfolio work, faculty feedback and a clearer understanding of art-school expectations.
No. CMU issues Pre-College I-20 documents only for the residential Summer Session program. International students considering Art need an appropriate existing immigration status and should review CMU's international guidance before arranging travel.
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Save this program in Succeed to compare it with similar programs, dates, costs and formats in one place.
Compare with other programsContent reviewed by
Ben Stacy
Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader
Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.
Sources and verification
Source types reviewed
- Pre-College Programs Application
- Campus Safety - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Move-Out Information - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- International Applicants - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Admitted Students - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Admission - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Cost and Scholarships - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Arrival - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Discover Sessions - Presentations and Q&As - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
- Art - Pre-College Programs - Carnegie Mellon University
Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.
What we verified (on 5 Oct 2026)
Art curriculum checked
Application deadlines checked
Eligibility requirements reviewed
Fee cycle distinguished
Scholarship policy reviewed
Campus safety reviewed
International guidance reviewed
How Succeed uses this information
We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current application instructions before applying.
Art Pre-College Program
by Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Programs
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