<p>This question is complicated by the fact that some colleges are far more able to give grants/scholarships than others. For instance, here in NJ, Rutgers Mason Gross costs ‘only’ $25,000 in state but it gives almost no scholarships. Whereas my son, when he went to Tisch, was awarded a generous need/merit scholarship that made the cost of attendance a third of Rutgers. These are just two examples among many. Some BFA programs are in colleges that are fairly low cost for all (eg Texas State); others are in colleges that award score-based academic merit scholarships (so you can tell in advance whether you’d qualify) in addition to other grants (eg Coastal Carolina). Well endowed private colleges with high official sticker prices can sometimes offer large merit/need based scholarships that smaller colleges cannot. </p>
<p>As a lower income single mom, I approached this with my kids by telling them that they had TWO hurdles to overcome: Getting in and affording it. For instance, my older daughter turned down RISD because they offered no grants and taking on $200,000 in loans was not an option. That was very disappointing for her but in the end it worked out as she ended up in a college that probably fitted her better.</p>
<p>We researched various colleges based on their endowment and vision statement (when you go to their website, most colleges frame their philosophy/ability on grants right there). For instance if their website directs you immediately to outside sources for scholarships with no mention of any college grants, you know right away they have little inside money. </p>
<p>Some BFA programs we did not apply to at all based on this. However, I would veer on the side of applying and then making sure your child understands that he/she has two hurdles, not one. Sometimes colleges that are ‘famous’ for not giving scholarships (Tisch even told us outright at the orientation that they sadly had ‘very little money’ as they were relatively new)–sometimes these colleges go ahead and award your child money anyway. It depends on their own ability to help combined with how much they happen to want your child, and you cannot really predict the latter. Obviously always make sure to have a financial safety.</p>