Housing Deposit & Application or Housing Exemption
Housing is required for all first-year students. Please submit the Emergency Contact and Housing Form that can be found on your applicant portal. Once you submit the form, you’ll be directed to pay the $200 housing fee and deposit. (The $200 housing deposit includes a $100 one-time non-refundable housing placement fee and a $100 refundable housing security deposit.)
Please note that both payment and the housing form are necessary and must be received by August 1, 2024 to hold your place in on-campus housing. Housing applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Housing may not be guaranteed after August 1.
If you think you may qualify for a housing exemption and would like to request to live off-campus, please review the criteria here. You will be able to fill out exemption reasons on the Emergency Contact and Housing Form.
Questions? Contact Mel Adams at 207.699.5035 or studentlife@meca.edu
Set up your Email & Register for Classes in June
- The Registrar will send an email to your email address on file, beginning in June for fall enrollment. The email will include instructions to set up your MECA&D email. Once you set this up and go into your MECA&D email you will find an email with instructions to set up your MyMECA&D account where you can obtain your class schedule, see your grades, get information about billing, and access your financial aid information.
- The Registrar will be creating a schedule for you in June, which you will be able to view in your MyMECA&D account. First-year students starting in the fall semester are generally assigned most of their classes with the exception of a studio elective. For students transferring, the Registrar's Office will contact you by phone to create a schedule around the classes you transferred in from previous colleges.
Log in to your MyMECA&D account here
Questions? Contact Anne Dennison, Registrar, at 207.699.5054 or registrar@meca.edu
Signed Financial Aid Agreement
You will receive an outline of your federal aid awards from the Financial Aid Office. Please carefully review your financial aid — you may accept all, part, or none of the federally-awarded grant and loan money. You will need to electronically sign the Financial Aid Agreement, preferably by Monday, July 22, 2024. You can access this from your financial aid award.
Please note: if you have been selected for verification, don't worry! It's completely normal and part of a random selection process done by the Department of Education. If you need help navigating this, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
Questions? Contact Carri Frechette or Will O'Shea at 207.699.5074 or finaid@meca.edu
Budget Worksheet
In order to help plan out your budget for the upcoming academic year, please fill out the BFA Budget Worksheet provided in your applicant portal. This sheet, for new students, will help you understand the financial commitment, guide you to payment resources, and let us know whether you would like to use a payment plan, loans, or other means of payment for your bill.
Please complete the budget worksheet by Monday, July 22, 2024.
Questions? Contact Tammy Jackson, Sr. Student Accounts Specialist, at 207.699.5049 or billing@meca.edu
Fall 2024 Tuition
Beginning in June or once you are registered for classes, the Student Accounts Office will mail a bill to the home address we have on file for tuition, fees, and any related room and board costs less any financial aid, scholarships, grants, or other aid you may qualify for or have obtained. Payment is due in full by Monday, July 22, 2024. Students enrolling after that date will receive an updated payment due date and may be subject to an earnest deposit on tuition.
Please note that because you may not be assigned a housing option until after the bill is issued, the line item for housing costs may be an estimate — this cost will either be completely accurate or will only change slightly when the housing placements are finalized.
If you'd like to discuss payment plans, read on below and/or contact the Student Accounts Office to see which options may work best for you.
Questions? Contact Tammy Jackson, Sr. Student Accounts Specialist, at 207.699.5049 or billing@meca.edu
Tuition Payment Plan and Tuition Insurance (optional)
If you would like to pay your tuition using a payment plan, you can sign up for a monthly plan per semster. For more information, visit the Tuition Payment page on our website.
Costs to Participate:
- $60 non-refundable enrollment fee per Semester
- $30 non-refundable returned payment fee, if a payment is returned
You may also consider learning more about tuition insurance, which reimburses tuition costs if you need to withdraw at any time during the semester for a covered reason, such as mental health conditions or serious illness. Visit this link to learn more and sign up.
Questions? Contact Tammy Jackson, Sr. Student Accounts Specialist, at 207.699.5049 or billing@meca.edu
Health Insurance (or Waiver)
All enrolled students are required to have health insurance that is valid in Maine. If you do not already have health insurance, you will be billed for MECA&D's insurance; the estimated cost of the insurance for the 2024–2025 year is $3,050.
If you are already covered by outside health insurance, you can opt out of the health insurance charge — it will be waived on your student account. Information about opting out will come with the billing statement.
Questions? Contact Tammy Jackson, Sr. Student Accounts Specialist, at 207.699.5049 or billing@meca.edu
BFA Enrollment Agreement
The BFA Enrollment Agreement, available in MyMECA, contains the 2024–2025 tuition information, fee schedule, and refund policies. All new students must sign the form by Monday, August 5, 2024. Students must be 18 years of age or older to sign this form.
Please note: If you are turning 18 in Spring or Summer 2024, please wait to sign the enrollment agreement until after your 18th birthday or it will need to be resubmitted when you turn 18. This form will populate on your enrolled student checklist after your birthday. (Parents should not sign on behalf of students.)
If you will be not be 18 or older before August 15, 2024, our form will require the additional signature of a parent of guardian, and the link above will not be valid. (You will have to resign with your signature and a parent signature.) Please email Ally Anderson in the student accounts office at alexandra.anderson@meca.edu with your name and the name and email of a parent or guardian who will co-sign, and we will send you a separate, correct version of the form to sign digitally.
Questions? Contact Admissions at 207.699.5026 or admissions@meca.edu
Immunization Records
The following immunizations are required by Maine State Law for all post-secondary students born after 1956:
- MMR 1 and 2: You must have two shots to be considered fully vaccinated against Measles, Mumps and Rubella.
- Tetanus: You must have a Tdap or a Td booster shot administered within the past 10 years to be considered fully vaccinated against Tetanus.
Proof of vaccination must be sent to admissions@meca.edu by Thursday, August 1, 2024.
Medical exemptions can be considered with proper documentation; please reach out to studentlife@meca.edu as soon as possible for approval.
Download the immunization form here and upload it to your applicant status page when filled out.
Questions? Contact Admissions at 207.699.5026 or admissions@meca.edu
Financial Aid Master Promissory Note & Entrance Counseling
Complete if you are receiving Direct Loans
If you are accepting a Direct Loan as part of your financial aid package, you will need to sign a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note and complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling, both are done online. All students receiving Direct Loans need to complete both steps by Monday, July 22, 2024 or earlier.
You will need your driver’s license, FSA ID, and two references with their names and addresses.
In order to receive your Federal Direct Loan(s) funds please follow these steps:
Step 1: Sign a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN)
- Go to www.studentaid.gov
- Sign in at the box in the upper right hand corner with your FSA ID
- Click on "Complete Master Promissory Note" in the middle of the page
- Select Subsidized/Unsubsidized
Step 2: Complete Loan Entrance Counseling
Entrance counseling will help you understand your loan, types of loans and terms, options for finding free money, and borrowing limits. This step will take 20–30 minutes and must be completed in a single session. Other types of counseling are also available, including advice on managing finances, though these are not required.
- Go to www.studentaid.gov
- Sign in at the box in the upper right hand corner with your FSA ID
- Click on "Complete Counseling"
- Select "Entrance Counseling"
Questions? Contact Carri Frechette or Will O'Shea at 207.699.5074 or finaid@meca.edu
Official Final High School Transcripts
In order to disperse your federal financial aid, the College needs proof of your high school graduation; both first-time freshmen and transfer students will need to submit these. Please have your guidance counselor send an official copy to the Admissions Office — these can be either a physical copy with a seal or delivered through an official transcript service like Common App, Parchment, or National Student ClearingHouse.
Any of the following will fulfill this requirement:
- Final high school transcript with printed graduation date
- Official copy of GED, HISET, or other high school equivalency test
Final transcripts are due by Thursday, August 1, 2024.
Questions? Contact Admissions at 207.699.5026 or admissions@meca.edu
Official College Transcripts and AP Credit
Applicants who are completing or have completed college coursework will need to submit a transcript containing final grades to the Admissions Office in order for the coursework to be considered for placement. This applies to both transfer students as well as high school students who may be taking college classes. Transcripts can be either an official physical copy with a seal or delivered through an official transcript service like Common App, Parchment, or National Student Clearing House.
Applicants seeking Advanced Placement credits must submit official test scores to the Admissions Office, preferably no later than Thursday, August 1, 2024. Maine College of Art & Design awards credit for test scores of 4 or above.
Questions? Contact Admissions at 207.699.5026 or admissions@meca.edu
Visa Requirements for International Students
Once you have submitted your enrollment fee and submitted your Declaration of Finances (DOF), we will issue you an I-20 form, which you will use to apply for your student visa at a US consulate or embassy.
You will need to submit the following documents to the Office of Admissions in order to receive your I-20:
- Declaration of Finances (DOF) form
- For your DOF to be processed we will need a scanned copy of your passport in color. You can send this with your completed DOF mail or send a digital copy.
- The United States Citizen and Immigration Service requires that international applicants submit a declaration of finances (DOF) to Maine College of Art & Design indicating that the applicant has financial resources adequate to provide for his or her expenses without resorting to unauthorized employment. The amount declared must reflect the total sum of tuition, fees and living expenses for one academic year of study and must be dated within one year of initial enrollment at the College.
- Verification of Finances (VOF)
All funds declared on the DOF must be substantiated by a verification of finances (VOF) from the student’s bank or sponsor’s bank. All documents must be in English and in U.S. dollars, or the bank must supply the current exchange rate. Official and original documentation must be provided. All supporting documentation must be dated within one year of initial enrollment at Maine College of Art & Design.
Please note that it can take up to six weeks for an I-20 form to be processed and delivered. We encourage you to submit this documentation as soon as possible.
Questions? Contact Emily Brighi, International Student Counselor, at 207.699.5028 or ebrighi@meca.edu