Financing your Education

Eligibility: Undergraduate, Certificate, Study Abroad, and International (Non-EU) Graduate Students.

Students who are awarded the College Assistance Program are required to complete an assigned number of hours each semester, on campus, assisting an academic or administrative department. The hours that they complete reduce their following semester’s tuition due; if the student wishes, a portion of the award can be received as a monthly stipend. Participation in the College Assistance Program is mandatory as it has a direct affect on financial need assessment. Should a student fail to complete all of the assigned hours of their CAP, their total financial assistance package will be lowered upon annual renewal.

Eligibility: Students in the MFA program who have the necessary qualifications regardless of nationality. 

Student teaching positions at the undergraduate level are available during the second year of the degree providing an opportunity to develop your teaching resume. 

MFA students who have completed the Educational Principles course, have the necessary qualifications, legal status, and a grade point average (GPA) above 3.3 may be awarded a teaching position.  

Interested students should contact their Department Chair at the end of their second semester in the program for further information about available opportunities in the following academic year, and validate with Human Resources and the Provost before the College Council that the course is offered the following year or that a new course should be submitted for consideration.

Please note that students on a Student Visa are allowed to work 60% of the legal annual time for a full–time job in France, which is a maximum of 964 hours per year. This duration starts from the validation of your VISA by OFII. Students being awarded assistantships sign a Short–Term Contract (called “Contrat à Durée Déterminée d’Usage”) with the Human Resources Office. A copy of your VISA (front & back) is required. 

Eligibility: Full-time Undergraduate and Graduate Students.

Students who enroll in a full-time degree program may be eligible for PCA’s Travel Grant, which helps offset the cost of visiting campus.

The grant provides a reduction of up to €1,000 toward your first-semester tuition to help cover travel expenses. Students become eligible for the grant once they submit their enrollment deposit and matriculate, and eligibility may be established in one of the following ways:

1. Post-Acceptance Campus Visit
Students who are admitted to a full-time degree program and visit campus in-person after acceptance and before submitting their enrollment deposit will become eligible for the travel grant once they deposit and matriculate.

2. In-Person Open House Attendance
Students who attend an in-person Open House and later matriculate into a full-time degree program are also eligible for the travel grant, whether or not they had submitted an application at the time of the event.

To receive the grant, students must submit receipts documenting their travel expenses. Please keep all travel documentation from your trip. The travel grant is issued after the start of the semester (in week 5 or later) once the tuition refund period is over.

Sallie Mae Student Loans

Students who are accepted to PCA and who are US citizens can apply for the Sallie Mae Student Loans to help them pay tuition and/or living expenses. Students are able to apply for annual loans that equal our annual published cost of tuition and living expenses. However, in the interest of the future financial stability of our students, we strongly advise students and their families read carefully about the different repayment options before determining the amount they wish to request.

To find out more information about the Sallie Mae Student Loans, please consult their website or give them a call at 855-429-9759. Please note that our institution’s code is: 609183-00.

Sallie Mae Student Loans.

VA Benefits

VA educational benefits are designed to make college and higher education available and affordable to student veterans or dependents. Educational Benefits vary on the veteran status and their time in the service. If you have applicable benefits, you can use these to support your education at PCA.

Several of PCA’s programs have already been approved for G.I. Bill Benefits. These include:

• BFA in Photography
• MA in Fashion Film, & Photography
• MA/MFA in Photography & Image-making

If the program you are interested in is not listed above, please, let us know when you apply to PCA so that we can start the process to get it approved for Veterans Affairs benefits.

Doing this will let us ensure that you can use your benefits for the program you wish to attend.

CAF/French Housing Assistance

EU National students in France with financial need are eligible to receive financial support from the French government to offset housing costs. This aid is administered by the Caisse d’Allocations Familliales (Family Allowances Fund), commonly referred to as the CAF. Students may apply for this aid after they have secured housing. The amount of support depends on the students need and the type of housing. Please note that an application for CAF does not guarantee that you will receive aid.

• InternationalStudent.com – Free scholarship database for international students
• European Funding Guide – Free scholarship database for European students
• For German students: Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst
• For Canadian students: Yconic – A free scholarship database
• For students from Hong Kong: Gov. HK