Congratulations on your acceptance to the Master of Fine Arts Program at Maine College of Art & Design!
As an accepted student to the MECA&D MFA program starting Summer 2026, we want you to be confident that our program is the right fit for you, and that you are well-prepared to start making work as soon as day one.
This page is an opportunity for you to:
- Learn more about the program and resources available to you,
- Be in touch with staff, faculty, current students, and prospective classmates,
- Attend virtual and in-person Accepted Student Events, and
- Make an enrollment decision.
Submit Your Enrollment Fee
To enroll at Maine College of Art & Design, please log in to the Applicant Portal to fill out the Reply to Offer of Admission form. Once you complete this form, you will be able to pay the $300 non-refundable enrollment fee by card.
Questions? Contact Joel Tsui at 207.699.5021 or joel.tsui-staff@meca.edu.
Apply for Graduate Housing
To be considered for graduate housing, you must first be an enrolled student. Once enrolled, please log in to the Applicant Portal to fill out the Emergency Contact and Housing Form. Once you complete this form, you will be able to pay the $200 Housing Fee and Deposit by card.
Note: graduate housing is first-come, first-served and requires both a completed housing form and the Housing Fee on file.
Questions? Contact the Student Life office at 207.699.5035 or StudentLife@meca.edu.
Attend Accepted Student Events
We have virtual and in-person opportunities for you to learn more about our MFA program. As an accepted student, this is a chance for you to get all your questions and curiosities answered and meet some of your future classmates.
Signups are available in the Applicant Portal.
Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 – Accepted Students Info Session (online)
Join Administrative Director of Graduate Programs Rachel Katz and MFA Chair Julie Poitras Santos for a deep dive into what to expect from our rigorous, two-year MFA program.
Thursday, Mar 5, 2026 – Accepted Students Social (online)
Join Graduate Admissions Coordinator Joel Tsui and MFA students for a casual social event. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the program directly from the MFA students.
Thursday, Mar 12, 2026 – Info Session with Faculty (online)
Join Graduate Admissions Coordinator Joel Tsui and MFA students for a casual social event. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the program directly from the MFA students.
Saturday, Mar 21, 2026 – On-campus Accepted Students Day
To cap off our accepted student events, we are hosting an in-person accepted students day. Check out our facilities and come meet your future classmates, the program chair, faculty members, and current students in person!
Visit us
If you haven’t yet visited MECA&D, we’d love to have you on campus! You can sign up for a graduate campus tour here or reach out to Graduate Admissions Coordinator Joel Tsui at joel.tsui-staff@meca.edu to arrange a visit on a date that works best for you.
Decision Due Date
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Extensions are granted on a case-by-case basis. Students admitted after the decision due date are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible, and students enrolling after the decision due date are not guaranteed graduate housing.
Financial Aid
Financial Aid Packet
The Financial Aid office will need the following items to begin building your Financial Aid Packet:
- Confirmation of your offer of admission; and
- A completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA waiver.
Financial Aid: Next Steps
The Financial Aid office has its own Next Steps page that covers everything you need to know about financial services at MECA&D. Learn more at the Graduate Financial Aid Next Steps page.
Apply for Outside Scholarships
We encourage you to apply for outside scholarships to reduce the cost of attendance. Students have reported having the most success with scholarships local to them. These include:
- Employers of family members (immediate and extended);
- Civic organizations, such as local chapters of Rotary clubs; and
- Religious organizations such as Knights of Columbus.
You should also reach out to your school (if currently enrolled elsewhere), town hall, library, and Chamber of Commerce for scholarship opportunities.
Questions? Contact Ally Anderson, Assistant Director of Financial Aid at 207.699.5074 or finaid@meca.edu.
Contact List
Joel Tsui is the Graduate Admissions Coordinator. You can be in touch with him for all questions related to your offer of admission.
Julie Poitras Santos is the Chair of the MFA program. You can be in touch with her about specific curricular questions.
Rachel Katz is the Administrative Director of Graduate Programs. You can be in touch with her about specific logistical questions ahead of the program.
Carri Frechette and Ally Anderson are our Director and Assistant Director of Financial Aid. You can be in touch with them about your FAFSA and financial aid status.
Bailey Marden is the Student Accounts Manager for Graduate Students. You can be in touch with her about billing and business-related questions.
Lastly, you can be in touch with the Student Life team about graduate housing, disability services, and accommodations.