Scholarships, like grants, do not need to be paid back. They are awarded to students who meet a combination of eligibility requirements, such as financial need, academic achievement, or other criteria. Design Institute offers the following scholarships:
Our Interior Design Scholarships and Grants
Click on one of the following available scholarships or grants to view details.
DESIGN INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO
BUILDING THE LEGACY SCHOLARSHIP – BFA PROGRAM
Each semester, Design Institute will grant up to three one-time scholarships of $1,000 for an entering student who is a first-time college student credited to their student account. These scholarships are designed to help make attendance at Design Institute more obtainable.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet all the requirements below:
- Be an entering student without previous postsecondary education.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in high school.
- Compose a 500- to 1000-word essay about an “Aha!” moment or other life experiences that led them to pursue an education in interior design. Applicants should not include their names in the essay.
- If available, provide a portfolio of relevant art or design work for review. All personally identifying information (e.g., name, logo, headshot) must be removed from the portfolio and its contents.
- Submit a complete admission application to Design Institute. The candidate’s required application documents will also be evaluated and considered in awarding scholarships.
- Be accepted into the program and attend Design Institute for the semester the scholarship is awarded.
Evaluation criteria:
All eligible and complete applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria by a committee using a numeric scoring evaluation form:
- The content of the essay, including how well is responds to the prompt.
- How well the essay is written.
- Content and writing quality of admissions essays.
Scholarship Guidelines:
- Scholarship materials and the complete admission application to Design Institute must be received no later than August 10th (for fall semester start), December 10th (for spring semester start), or April 10th (for summer semester start). The essay and, if included, portfolio, must be submitted electronically to scholarships@disd.edu by the due date.
- Up to three Design Institute sponsored scholarships per semester may be awarded.
- Each scholarship recipient will receive the same scholarship amount credited to their student account.
- Acceptance into the program and attendance at Design Institute for the semester the scholarship was awarded is required.
- If a student withdraws during the semester, the scholarship will be included in “other sources of aid” in the refund calculation.
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP – BFA PROGRAM
Each semester Design Institute will grant up to two scholarships of $1,500 for a full-time student or $1,000 for a part-time or evening student credited to their student account. Once awarded, scholarships will be automatically renewed so long as recipients remain enrolled in 12 units or more per semester if a full-time student, or 9 units or more per semester if a part-time or evening student. A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher must also be maintained in order for the scholarship to be renewed. An exception can be made for students who, due to transferred credits and curriculum restrictions, require a reduced course load. The course load reduction exception does not apply to students who take a reduced curriculum due to the failure and/or repetition of a course or courses.
To be eligible for the scholarship applicants must:
- Be an entering student for the first time at Design Institute with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher.
- Have financial need and be eligible for financial aid.
- Prepare a 500- to 1000-word essay in which they describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work in design, art or music, and explain how this has had an influence on them as a person. Applicants should not include their names in the essay.
- Provide a list of all academic achievement awards and/or extracurricular activities. Applicants should not include their names on this list.
Evaluation criteria:
All eligible and complete applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria by a committee using a numeric scoring evaluation form:
- The content of the essay, including how well is responds to the prompt.
- How well the essay is written.
- Content and writing quality of admissions essays.
- Demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.
Scholarship guidelines:
- Scholarship materials and the complete admission application to Design Institute must be received no later than August 10th (for fall semester start), December 10th (for spring semester start), or April 10th (for summer semester start). The essay and list of all academic achievement awards and/or extracurricular activities must be submitted electronically to scholarships@disd.edu by the due date.
- Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum course load of: 12 units or more per semester if a full-time student, or 9 units or more per semester if a part-time or evening student.
- Once awarded, scholarship recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher during their studies at Design Institute.
- If an awarded student withdraws during the semester, the scholarship will be included in “other sources of aid” in the refund calculation.
- Should an awarded student drop below the eligibility guidelines regarding cumulative GPA or course load requirements, scholarship eligibility will discontinue for future semesters. An exception can be made for students who, due to transferred credits and curriculum restrictions, require a reduced load. The course load reduction exception does not apply to students who take a reduced curriculum due to the failure and/or repetition of a course or courses.
DIRECTOR'S GRANT – BFA PROGRAM
Each semester Design Institute will award up to two Director’s Grants of $1,500 for a full-time student or $1,000 for a part-time or evening student credited to their student account. Once awarded, grants will be automatically renewed so long as recipients remain enrolled in 12 units or more per semester if a full-time student, or 9 units or more per semester if a part-time or evening student. An exception can be made for students who, due to transferred credits and curriculum restrictions, require a reduced load. The course load reduction exception does not apply to students who take a reduced curriculum due to the failure and/or repetition of a course or courses.
A cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher must also be maintained in order for the grant to be renewed.
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must:
- Be a current student with at least one full semester completed and with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 for courses taken at Design Institute.
- Have financial need and be eligible for financial aid.
- Prepare a 500- to 1000-word essay addressing how they will apply their knowledge, skills and abilities to enrich the profession, the environment, and the global community. Applicants should not include their names in the essay.
- Submit a 6-page portfolio of creative work that best represents the development of their design skills at Design Institute (must be submitted as a PDF file). All personally identifying information (e.g. name, logo, headshot) must be removed from the portfolio and its contents.
Evaluation criteria:
All eligible and complete applications will be reviewed according to the following criteria by a committee using a numeric scoring evaluation form:
- The content of the essay, including how well is responds to the prompt.
- How well the essay is written.
- Design skills demonstrated in the portfolio.
Grant guidelines:
- Grant application materials must be submitted electronically to scholarships@disd.edu and received no later than July 10th (for fall semester start), November 10th (for spring semester start), or April 10th (for summer semester start). Up to two Design Institute sponsored grants per semester may be awarded.
- Grant recipients must maintain a course load of: 12 units or more per semester if a full-time student, or 9 units or more per semester if a part-time or evening student.
- Once awarded, grant recipients must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher during their studies at Design Institute.
- If an awarded student withdraws during the semester, the grant will be included in “other sources of aid” in the refund calculation.
- Should an awarded student drop below the eligibility guidelines regarding cumulative GPA or course load requirements, grant eligibility will discontinue for future semesters. An exception can be made for students who, due to transferred credits and curriculum restrictions, require a reduced load. The course load reduction exception does not apply to students who take a reduced curriculum due to the failure and/or repetition of a course or courses.
DISD TRANSFER GRANT
Each semester, DISD offers a one-time grant for students transferring in credits from another accredited institution.
Grant details and eligibility:
- All new students (first time entering to DISD) who have completed general education, or interior design college‐level courses will receive a one‐time Transfer Grant of $3,000. The grant will be credited to the student account over two semesters for students enrolled in 12 units (or more), or credited to the student account over three semesters for students enrolled in 6 units or more.
- No application is necessary to qualify for this grant. The Transfer Grant is for new students only.
- Only one grant, scholarship or tuition program may be applied per semester.
- Eligibility to receive both installments of the grant requires continuous and consecutive enrollment in the first two semesters. Withdrawal in enrollment status will void the terms of the Transfer Grant and eligibility for any future Transfer Grant installments.
- If an awarded Student withdraws during the semester, the Transfer Grant will be reversed and will not be included in any refund calculation for the Student.
For more information contact grants@disd.edu.
DESIGN INSTITUTE OF SAN DIEGO EQUITY AND INCLUSION SCHOLARSHIP
This scholarship is designed to help make attendance at Design Institute of San Diego for the BFA and MID programs obtainable and to promote equity and inclusion for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) students who are underrepresented in the interior design profession. The scholarship provides for a maximum award of $25,000. New and currently enrolled students are encouraged to apply.
