MFA Frequently Asked Questions

What are the studio spaces like?

Each studio is roughly 135 square feet (~9’x15′), although the layout might be slightly different in each one (see images in video above, or view this Open Studios tour). There is both florescent and incandescent lighting in each studio with individual controls. Studios are semi-private, which means they don’t have doors on each space, but students will often hang a curtain if they desire more privacy. Every studio is equipped with a table, chair, and cabinet, and MCAD’s Facilities team will help you locate furniture pieces if you need to swap one out for a different size or height, etc. We also have easels available for those who need them, and students often trade furniture to find the right combination. The basement studios have garden-level windows and an exhaust system to allow oil painters to work with solvents.

How much time does the Graduate Assistantship take up?

Currently, the $6000 graduate assistantship (GA/GTA) is paid at the Minneapolis minimum wage of $15.19/hour (going up to $15.57/hour on Jan 1, 2024), and takes approximately 10-12 hours per week depending on which week you start in August and if you do assistantship hours over winter break. To help visualize the time commitment, we’ve uploaded this sample schedule of an MFA student.

Can I decline the Graduate Assistantship?

Yes, every year we have a few students who decline the $6000 graduate assistantship (GA/GTA) because they have a more lucrative part-time job outside of MCAD, and/or they don’t need or desire the experiences that the GA or GTA offers. There is no penalty for declining the assistantship.

Can I work full time and do this MFA Program?

We support the prospect of students working while they are enrolled in the program, but we know from experience that it’s really hard to get the full benefit of the MFA program when you are working full-time. We would recommend working full-time for a few years to accumulate savings enough so you can afford to work only part-time while enrolled in the program. This is because having enough studio time is really important for making progress in your creative practice, mentorship, and classes. With a full-time job, it is extremely difficult to reserve much studio time to achieve your goals. To help visualize the time commitment, we’ve uploaded this sample schedule of an MFA student.

Can I do the MFA Program part-time?

To be eligible for MCAD grants and assistantships, students must be full-time (at least 12 credits per semester). Students can retain their federal loans if they choose to attend part-time for a few semesters, but they would want to talk about that course planning with the MFA director to address any concerns. You can view our course grid for planning. Please note that the classes listed in semesters 1 and 3 occur only in the fall, and the classes listed in semesters 2 and 4 occur only in the spring.

Do you recommend going to graduate school right after undergrad?

At any given time, about ¼ of our MFA students come directly from undergraduate studies, succeed, and we celebrate them! However, we generally recommend taking some time off between undergraduate and graduate study. Taking a break allows you to make at least one body of work that is driven by your own interests rather than the structures of academic assignments or capstone projects. Additionally, taking some time off will help you focus and articulate exactly why you want to return to an MFA program. Lastly, working for a while after undergraduate studies can help you save up funds and reduce the amount of loans you might need to take out to support your studies.

Where can I live?

The majority of MFA students live off-campus. There is limited on-campus housing available and you can put in a request, but priority goes to incoming undergraduates and international students (most of the MFA international students live on-campus).

For off-campus options, we recommend using one of your favorite apartment finding websites.

Additionally, these recommendations have been collected from MFA alumni:

Fair Oaks Apartments (2421 3rd Ave S, Minneapolis) — They are on the higher end of the budget, but the management is phenomenal. They regularly accept MCAD students (grad and undergrad) and will work around Financial Aid disbursement dates if a student is using it to pay rent/housing off-campus.
KRC Apartments: https://krcapartments.com/
Hornig: https://www.hornigcompanies.com/
Stutsman: https://www.stutsmanrealtyinc.com/for-rent/
Mint Properties: https://mintproperties.com/
Irving: https://www.irvingpropertiesinc.com/ — They own a bunch of old buildings in Uptown and around the Lakes that take dogs and have clawfoot bathtubs, high ceilings, wood floors and lots of soul.
Commercial Connection: https://www.commercialconnection.biz/
Stevens Community Apartments: http://www.stevenscommunity.com/ — They have a lot of buildings in the area with different sizes and prices and some units allow pets.