Im based in WI and beginning my second year at Community College but I need a start on what schools to transfer to. I have a decent list of my own but need advice. Im looking to apply to universities with good design programs atp im only considering non art school options.
Program: Graphic Design/Visual Comm
Start Term: Fall 2025
UW GPA: 3.75
ACT: 30
ECs: Interior design summer internship with OSU later brought back the next year as a supervisor.
Interior design project for an early learning child center.
Home health care HR assistant.
Applying to:
UW Madison (in-state)
UMKC (family is moving to MO)
Loyola
UCLA
UCSD
USC
VCU
Considerations: Open to any suggested
Im also worried about the cost of attendance and the cost of living. Im pell grant eligible and my fafsa thus far exceeds my cc tuition plus a renewable scholarship grant. While I do want to attend out of state schools I cant afford to put myself in debt. I plan on working while being a full time student but would need good scholarships to stay afloat.
USC tuition and fees run about $95k per year.
They reserve a lot of their private funds for freshman National Merit Winners, recruited athletes, and underrepresented students.
If you qualify for a Pell grant, that tells me that you probably can’t afford the yearly costs.
Because you’re not a California resident, you can’t access Calgrant funds, nor instate funding towards your costs. You should apply because that’s where you want to go. But you need to know it may be very expensive.
UCLA and UCSD need to be removed from your list if finances are a concern. The Pell Grant is a drop in the bucket for the $75,000 a year cost of attendance. The UCs don’t give aid to OOS students.
You may want to check whether your parents moving out of state could cause you to lose in-state residency in WI for the purpose of tuition and state financial aid.
Check the net price calculator on each school’s web site to see what financial aid may be like.