Apply to the MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture Program
The Sam Fox School at WashU welcomes illustrators, comic artists, and designers to apply for admission to the MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture program.
Graduate Recruitment Specialist, Art
Criteria for Eligibility & Deadlines
Sep 1, 2026
Applications open
Dec 15, 2026
Application fee starts
$40. Apply for free through December 14.
Jan 10, 2027
Applications due
Mar 1, 2027
Decisions released
Program Prerequisites
- Applicants should have completed a BFA or equivalent academic preparation with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
- Applicants are NOT required to submit GRE scores.
Required Application Materials Checklist
The MFA-IVC program is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). Admissions decisions are based on the applicant’s portfolio, academic records, writing sample, statement of objectives, and references. Both writing and visual portfolio samples are required, but we do not expect applicants to be equally proficient in both areas.
Application materials may be submitted over time. However, all materials, with the exception of the letters of recommendation, must be received by the application deadline. No applicant will be offered admission into the program until all required materials have been received.
You will need:
All applicants must upload digital copies (PDF format) of transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended.
Competitive applicants for admission will have a 3.0 grade point average (GPA) or above on a 4.0 scale. For those who have pursued undergraduate degrees in architecture, special attention will be given to grades obtained in studio coursework.
Unofficial transcripts must include the institution name, applicant name, dates of attendance, grades received for each course taken in all terms attended, degree information, and transcript key or interpretation guide.
In-progress transcripts: If you have not yet completed your current program at the time of application, please provide transcript(s) showing the work you have completed to date and courses in progress.
Official transcripts: Admitted students are required to provide a final official transcript from the institution that conferred their undergraduate degree. The Sam Fox School reserves the right to revoke an offer of admission if discrepancies are found between the uploaded unofficial documents and official educational records.
Foreign transcript evaluation: International students must submit both an original-language document and an English translation.
We do not require transcript evaluations, but we encourage submitting a transcript evaluation from a NACES member organization if you earned or will earn a prerequisite degree outside of the United States.
Concise statement (between 300-600 words, PDF or text) that gives a sense of you, your creative work, and your objectives for graduate study. The statement should include a modest personal history and focus on your interests and connections to illustration and/or visual culture. The statement should also identify any additional disciplinary-specific interests and/or any historical and contemporary influences you have. Please make sure your name is at the top of this document.
A sample of expository writing. See details below.
12-20 samples of your best, strongest work. See details below.
Names, titles, and email addresses for three (3) professors, instructors, or professionals with whom you have recently worked or studied. Obtain their consent to provide a letter of recommendation for you. They will receive a request from the school once you have applied.
Applicants whose native language is not English must provide English language proficiency test scores. See details below.
Non-refundable $40 application fee, paid online by credit card.
Note: the application is free through December 14.
GRE Policy: Test Scores Not Required
Applicants to our MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture program are NOT required to submit GRE scores.
Guidlines for MFA-IVC Portfolio and Writing Sample
Digital Portfolio
You will be prompted to upload a portfolio in Slideroom. Submit 12-20 images or samples of your work, including illustrations, prints, artist’s books, collage images, drawings, sketchbook pages, comics, GIFs, videos, and/or samples of time-based media that best represent your work and visual voice. Variety is encouraged; a single mode or style of work is not necessarily preferred or required. The work presented should be current and should also showcase your future potential as an image maker.
Specifications:
- Images: JPG format, 5MB maximum file size, 1,200 px on the longest side at 72dpi
- PDFs: 10MB maximum file size
- Video: MPEG or MOV format, 250MB maximum file size, no longer than 5 minutes in duration
- Audio: MP3 format, 30MB maximum file size, no longer than 5 minutes in duration
Do not use presentation programs such as PowerPoint.
All digital files submitted should follow a naming convention that includes your last name and the first initial of your first name, such as: DoeJ_GhostSeries_Image1.jpg.
Please enter details about each piece you submit, including title, date, size, and medium. Do not use this space to discuss the work.
Writing Sample
Expository writing is intended to describe, explain, or analyze a given subject in textual form. There is no requirement for length, but it should be enough to demonstrate your ability to express your ideas clearly. Content is more important than extensive word count. Examples of writing samples could include: an undergraduate paper in art history, a critical literary analysis, a personal essay in material culture study (film, comics, illustration, objects), an article or published review, or any other piece of writing that demonstrates your ability to construct and defend an argument, position, or idea.
International Graduate Student Admissions
WashU is responsible for confirming that visitors and students possess the necessary level of English language proficiency to succeed in their respective course of study and/or program. For more information on WashU’s accepted English language proficiency tests and minimum score requirements, please visit the Office for International Students & Scholars website.
Minimum English Proficiency Requirements
WashU accepted tests and minimum score requirements:
- Duolingo English Test (DET) – 125 minimum overall score
- GATEWAY English Test – 495 minimum overall score
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic – 6.5 minimum composite score
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT – 5.0 overall (new scale) OR 4.5 ≥ 90 overall (old scale)
WashU does not accept super-scored results (a combination of the highest scored sections) such as TOEFL MyBest.
Exemption Criteria
Exemptions from the English language proficiency test requirement may be granted if you meet the criteria outlined in the policy. For more information, please visit the Provost website.
Applicants from China
Upon acceptance, students who attended a Chinese university must also have their official transcripts and qualification certificates verified (in English) by the Center for Student Services Development (CSSD).
Graduate Scholarships & Financial Aid Options
We recognize that financial support is an important part of your graduate school decision-making process, and the Sam Fox School is committed to providing assistance to as many students as possible. Currently, 94% of graduate students in the Sam Fox School receive support.
Some of our full and significant tuition scholarships and fellowships require separate application. Others, students are automatically considered. We encourage you to learn about your options early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I put in my portfolio?
We’d love to get a sense of the full range of your abilities. Send 12-20 images of your best, most recent work that is most representative of your practice.
What do you want in my writing sample?
What we really want is to get a sense of your writing style. If nonfiction essays are your jam, then we’d love to read that! Or maybe you’re more into short stories, critical reviews, or even poetry. In any case, writing, authorship, and scholarship are major components of our MFA-IVC program. Show us a sample of your work that demonstrates how you communicate your ideas in writing.
How do I apply for scholarships and financial aid?
We offer competitive packages, based on a combination of need and merit, including full-tuition scholarships such as the Sam Fox Ambassadors Graduate Fellowship Program (which also includes an annual travel stipend) and the Sam Fox School Graduate Scholarship, along with the Catherine M. & Stanley R. Miller Scholarship, which covers 75% of tuition. Check out our full list of opportunities.
Is the GRE required?
Nope! We do not require the GRE for students applying to the MFA-IVC program.
When will I receive a decision about my application?
Decisions will be released March 1, 2027.
Connect with Us
Schedule a Campus Visit or Portfolio Review
A campus tour is a great way to get a feel for what it would be like to join us at the Sam Fox School. Schedule your visit with one of our recruiters today. Or, reach out to a recruiter to schedule a portfolio review.
Contact our Recruitment Team
Our team of recruiters is here to help you. Reach out to them with questions about applying, scheduling a visit, and more.
Associate Director of Recruitment and Admissions
Graduate Recruitment Specialist, Architecture
Graduate Recruitment Specialist, Art
Admissions Operations Coordinator
Upcoming MFA-IVC Admissions Events
Sep 26, 12 – 4pm • Virtual
Sep 28, 12 – 1pm • Virtual
Graduate Info Session: Making the most of your MFA-IVC with Cleonique Hilsaca
Oct 17, 10am – 2pm • School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Washington University encourages and gives full consideration to all applicants for admission, financial aid, and employment. The University does not discriminate in access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, veteran status, disability, or genetic information. Applicants with a prior criminal history will not be automatically disqualified from consideration for admission. Inquiries about compliance should be addressed to the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, Washington University in St. Louis, MSC 1190-853-03, One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130.