Certificate Of Fine Arts | CFA Programs - New York Academy Of Art

Before You Apply

Those seeking entry to the CFA program are required to submit an admissions application as outlined below. Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent. For more details on degree equivalency, please see the Academy’s FAQs below or contact the Admissions Office [email protected].

Applications are assessed by the Academy’s Admissions Committee through a multi-step review process. Portfolios are first evaluated in a blind review using the following qualitative measures: technical skill, formal awareness and conceptual development. The portfolios are evaluated again in conjunction with the candidate’s personal statement, letters of recommendation, official transcripts and other supporting documents.

Admissions Committee members use the rubric below that aligns with Thesis evaluation in assessing applications for both review cycles described above.

Percentage	Criteria	Description
30%	Technical Skill	The ability to render the illusion of form in two and three dimensions and to have access to the history of technical sophistication.
30%	Formal Knowledge	The ability to combine technical skill, design, composition and narrative content into a cohesive visual statement.
30%	Conceptual Awareness	An awareness of the critical underpinnings of contemporary and historical art and an ability to deploy them in a visual medium.
10%	Life Drawings	Level and quality of observational rendering skill.

Grade Scale

4.0	A	Work of the highest quality
3.7	A-	Work of high quality
3.3	B+	Very good work, better than average ability
3.0	B	Good work, satisfying course requirements
2.7	B-	Below average work
2.0	C	Well below average work, lowest passing grade
0.0	F	Failure

2024 Application Deadlines

CFA Early Consideration Deadline:	January 15  (Extended to January 22)
CFA Early Consideration Notification:	February 24 – February 28
CFA Early Consideration Deposit Due:	April 1

CFA Regular Decision Deadline:	March 20
CFA Regular Decision Notification:	April 24 – April 25
CFA Regular Decision Deposit Due:	May 1

APPLY NOW!

The Academy is accepting applications to the CFA program beginning August 28th. Our admissions process is highly selective, and applicants are encouraged to apply early for inclusion in the incoming class.  While this is the case, we understand that later applying candidates may be outstanding additions to our CFA cohort. Applicant submissions and reviews continue through the spring and summer. Please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested in applying for fall admission.

Late Application Period

We welcome applications during the late application period, subject to program availability. Apply by the following deadlines:

• May 9, 2025
• June 12, 2025
• July 11, 2025

Late Application Fee: $50 (waived for current CFA students)

Admission decisions will be sent within one month of the deadline.

Deadline to Commit: July 25, 2025

For Current CFA Students:

Current Certificate of Fine Arts (CFA) students who wish to apply to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) program must submit their application by May 9, 2025. CFA students receive priority consideration for admission and available spots.

Note: Admission is contingent upon space availability in the program.

Application Fee

Those seeking admission to the Academy’s CFA program must complete an online application. The application is FREE. Please see the list of instructions below.

Application Instructions

Applicants must register for a free account to complete the following online. Click here to begin your application. Submit the following application materials through the online portal:

Application Form

Portfolio

Please submit no more than 20 images total consisting of:

• • Five (5) life drawings of the figure from observation in a traditional drawing medium such as charcoal, graphite, ink, etc. Please note that works in painting or sculpture mediums such as acrylic, oil and clay will not fulfill this requirement.
  • Ten (10) additional images of self-directed work in any medium.
  • You may submit up to two views of a single piece (one view per image). Please note the limit of 20 images total still applies.

Image files must be in .jpg format no more than 2500 pixels on the longest side.

The portfolio should represent your strongest work, indicate your major interest and direction, and demonstrate your technical skill and ability. All work should be from within the last three years. For those with unique circumstances wishing to submit images outside the three-year range, please contact [email protected].

After uploading the portfolio, click on each image to add title, year, medium, dimensions and sequence order for viewing.

Personal Statement

A one-page statement of educational objectives and career goals indicating why you believe these will be advanced by study at the Academy. Applicants are encouraged to discuss work in the portfolio, an understanding of the Academy’s unique mission and indicate how study at the institution will progress individual artistic development and aspirations.

Artist CV or Resume

Submission of a CV or resume enhances the MFA application by giving more insight into a candidate’s creative experience. Please include educational background, professional experience, awards, residencies, exhibitions, etc. For more details on developing a CV or resume, please visit the College Art Association’s resource page.

References

Letters of recommendation from academic professionals are strongly recommended. After creating your application account, go to the references tab and enter the name and contact information for each individual providing a recommendation. Your references will automatically receive an email with submission instructions. Please contact your references to ensure timely submission of your recommendation by the application deadline. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

Transcripts

Certified official transcripts conveying an applicant’s academic history and proof of eligibility are required. Transcripts must be emailed or mailed from your previous school to the Academy to be considered official. If you have attended more than one post-secondary institution, a transcript is required from each one.

The Academy accepts electronic transcripts! Please contact your previous institution(s) to have your e-transcript sent to [email protected].

As many institutions do not issue e-transcripts, we also accept hardcopy. Please request transcripts be mailed from your previous institution to:

New York Academy of Art ATTN: ADMISSIONS 111 Franklin Street New York, NY 10013

International Students

International Students MUST submit certified true copies of academic transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended in the original language issued. If not English, applicants must submit an official evaluation from World Educational Services. www.wes.org

Bachelors Equivalent

For those applicants without a formal undergraduate degree, please contact the Admissions Office for more information on submitting proof of eligibility [email protected]

Evidence of English Proficiency International Students Only

Those whose first language is not English must also demonstrate evidence of English proficiency by supplying a TOEFL or IELTS score. For more information on English proficiency requirements, please visit our International Students page.

Applying for Transfer of Credits

Applicants seeking to transfer credits should first review the Academy’s policy. The transfer of credit application form must be emailed to the Admissions Office [email protected] and submitted by the filing deadlines listed above. Please include the program to which you are applying in the body of the email. For questions regarding the application or policy, please contact the Registrar [email protected].