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
Each semester, Design Institute will grant up to three one-time $1,000 scholarships credited to their student account. This scholarship may be awarded to eligible entering freshman who are first-time college students. These scholarships are designed to help make attendance at Design Institute of San Diego more obtainable.
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must meet all the requirements below:
- Be an entering freshman 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.
- If available, provide a portfolio of relevant art or design work for review.
- Submit a complete admission application to Design Institute of San Diego. 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.
Scholarship Guidelines:
- Scholarship materials and the complete admission application to Design Institute of San Diego must be received no later than August 15th (for fall semester start), December 15th (for spring semester start), or April 15th (for summer semester start). The essay must be submitted electronically to scholarships@disd.edu by the due date and the remainder of the scholarship materials should be submitted with the admission application.
- Up to three DISD sponsored scholarships per semester may be awarded.
- All scholarship applicants and their materials will be reviewed by a committee using a numeric scoring evaluation form. Completeness of the scholarship requirements, GPA, scholarship essay, and application materials will be considered.
- 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
Each semester Design Institute of San Diego will grant up to two scholarships of $1,500 for a full-time student or $1,000 for a part-time 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 of San Diego with a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher.
- Have financial need and be financial aid eligible.
- 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.
- Provide a list of all academic achievement awards and/or extracurricular activities.
Scholarship guidelines:
- Scholarship materials and the complete admission application to Design Institute of San Diego must be received no later than August 15th (for fall semester start), December 15th (for spring semester start), or April 15th (for summer semester start). The essay must be submitted electronically to scholarships@disd.edu by the due date and the remainder of the scholarship materials should be submitted with the admission application.
- Scholarship recipients must be studying on a full-time basis: 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.
- All scholarship applicants and their materials will be reviewed by a committee using a numeric scoring evaluation form. Completeness of the scholarship requirements, GPA, scholarship essay, and application materials will be considered.
DIRECTOR'S GRANT
Each semester Design Institute of San Diego 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.
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 or higher for courses taken at Design Institute.
- Have financial need and be financial aid eligible.
- 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.
- Submit a 6-page portfolio of creative work that best represents the development of their design skills at Design Institute of San Diego (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.
Grant guidelines:
- Grant application materials must be submitted electronically to scholarships@disd.edu and received no later than July 15th (for fall semester start), November 15th (for spring semester start), or April 15th (for summer semester start). Up to two DISD sponsored grants per semester may be awarded, one grant for each category.
- Grant recipients must be studying on a full-time basis: 12 units or more per semester if a fulltime student, or 9 units or more per semester if a part-time or evening student. Each grant recipient will receive the same grant amount credited to their student account.
- 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.
- All grant applications and their materials will be reviewed by a committee using a numeric scoring evaluation form. Completeness of the grant requirements, GPA, grant essay, and application materials will be considered.
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 – BFA
This scholarship is designed to help make attendance at Design Institute of San Diego for the BFA program 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.
