Annual Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the Core program 2024-2025 is $13,800*.

*International students must pay an additional visa processing fee of $750 due upon acceptance.

Tuition Payment Schedule:

• Deposit 1: $1,000 due within 2 weeks of acceptance notification (Deposit 1 is non-refundable)
• Deposit 2: $4,000 due by June 1
• Fall Semester payment: $4,400 due by September 1
• Winter/Spring Semester payment: $4,400 due by January 15

Students are required to keep their financial accounts current in order to keep attending classes.

Your tuition includes uninstructed open studio hours after class Monday – Thursday, and daytime Saturdays & Sundays. Weeknight evenings include free models. Open studio hours are uninstructed by design to encourage students to further explore working independently or collaboratively and to work side by side with students from different years and with resident artists.

Payment Methods

We accept check, cash and credit card. Checks are preferred.

Checks: please make payable to Grand Central Atelier
Mail to: Grand Central Atelier, 1519 Decatur Street Suite 201, Ridgewood, NY 11385

Cash: please check with the office if you need to pay in cash
Credit card: there is a 5% processing fee on top of tuition payment

Fees

A $50 per week late fee will be charged for late payments.
$50 late fee will be charged for checks returned by the bank.

Withdrawal/Refunds

If an artist wishes to terminate participation, the office must receive written notice. In the event of early withdrawal, artists will forfeit their paid fees.

*Please note: fees are subject to change.

Work Study Opportunities

Apart from two model coordinator positions, GCA has limited hourly work study opportunities related to GCA events or studio set up, clean up and maintenance. The office publicizes these opportunities to the student body. $15/hour.

Merit Scholarships for Continuing Core Students

For continuing students entering their 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of the core program, merit-based scholarships balanced with financial need may be awarded.  These scholarships begin at $500 and have the potential to increase each year. Scholarships are awarded in the spring/summer and are applied towards the next school year’s tuition.

International Student Scholarships

We are pleased to offer partial tuition scholarships to incoming international students. If accepted into the program, students can submit a scholarship application at the same time they submit their I-20 application form. Students are responsible for the living expenses and art supplies for the duration of the program.

Grand Central Atelier has been approved to accept non-immigrant international students in our full-time Core Program. We are part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a web-based system that monitors information on non-immigrant international students attending school in the United States.

International students must be accepted into the Core Program before applying for a visa. Upon acceptance, the GCA will provide the student with an I-20 application form, necessary to the visa application.

With the I-20 form and supporting documentation, students can make an appointment for a visa interview at their local US embassy or consulate.

The following website contains helpful information about visa requirements and studying in the United States:

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/students

For more information contact Mariya Marcheva, Registrar at info@grandcentralatelier.org.

Tour/Visit

We encourage artists to visit the Grand Central Atelier studios before applying.

We are currently offering in-person or virtual tours by appointment only. Our students lead the tours and since they are often in class, the tours must be scheduled in advance. We are unable to accommodate drop-in visits. Book your tour here.

Drawing Year 2025 Application form

Students must show a serious work ethic, a sincere desire to learn. Students with all levels of experience are encouraged to apply.

Application form for the Drawing Year 2025-2026 that will begin in September 2025 will be available at the bottom of this page starting January 2 – February 15, 2025. Applications received after February 15 may be considered on a space-available basis.*

Have questions about the program before applying, please review the Core Program FAQ page or fill out the Full-time Study Inquiry form.

The Drawing Year program begins in September and ends in May. There is no winter admission.

Notification

Please allow 4-6 weeks after your application has been submitted for processing and for updates on your application status.

Application Requirements

• Online application form available until February 15 or after by request*
• Personal Statement (500 words or less)
• 2 Recommendations (either teacher, colleague or friend). Recommenders can submit letters directly to info@grandcentralatelier.org. If they chose to submit directly, you can upload blank documents in the section for recommendation letters with the name of each person sending a letter.
• 7 images showing a range of the kind of work you have made:

• • At least 4 original works (works not created within a school environment).
  • Cast drawings/paintings, Bargue drawings, Master copies are not required.
  • If you are to include any cast drawings/paintings, Bargue drawings, Master copies, please do not submit more than 1 cast drawing and 1 copy (credited).
  • Self-portrait suggested (not required).
  • Please include the title and size of each work.
  • Keep work from photos to a minimum.

• To upload, each image must be smaller than 1GB.

If your application passes review, you will be invited to interview. We prefer that candidates interview in person if possible unless they are residing overseas.

*To request the Drawing Year application after the February 15th deadline, please fill out the Full-time Study Inquiry form.