Arts Merit Scholarships

Bucknell's Arts Merit Scholarships range from $2,500 to $20,000 annually to selected first-year students who plan to pursue studies in art & design, art history, creative writing, dance, film/media studies, literary studies, music (major or non-major) or theatre (performance or design and technology). Recipients will receive notifications along with their admissions decisions.

Financial need is not a requirement, and the scholarship is automatically renewed for second, third and fourth years as long as recipients maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet requirements of the program. The application process includes an on-campus component, and recipients are selected by Bucknell faculty members.

Award

Submit Arts Merit Scholarship materials

Go to Slideroom

How to Apply

To be considered for an Arts Merit Scholarship, apply for admission to Bucknell University using the Common Application or the Coalition Application, and submit Arts Merit Scholarship application materials using Slideroom.

Arts Merit Scholarship applicants who apply Early Decision I or II must contact the relevant faculty liaison (see list below) to arrange their interview or audition prior to their respective application deadline.

Early Decision IEarly Decision IIRegular Decision
Deadline: Nov. 15Deadline: Jan. 15Deadline: Jan. 15
  • Submit Common Application or Coalition Application (powered by Scoir)
  • Submit Slideroom materials
  • Arrange interview or audition with faculty liaison
  • Submit Common Application or Coalition Application (powered by Scoir)
  • Submit Slideroom materials
  • Arrange interview or audition with faculty liaison
  • Submit Common Application or Coalition Application (powered by Scoir)
  • Submit Slideroom materials

Regular Decision finalists are selected by faculty and invited to attend Arts Merit Weekend. Invitations to Arts Merit Weekend are for the purpose of an interview or audition for the Arts Merit Scholarship only.


Faculty Liaisons

Art & Design and Art History
Professor Roger Rothman
Samuel H. Kress Professor of Art History
Department of Art and Art History
rrothman@bucknell.edu

Creative Writing
Professor Katie Hays
Associate Professor of Creative Writing
Department of English
khays@bucknell.edu

Dance
Professor Kelly Knox
Associate Professor of Dance
Department of Theatre and Dance
kknox@bucknell.edu

Film/Media Studies
Professor Ken Eisenstein
Assistant Professor of English
Department of English
ken.eisenstein@bucknell.edu

Literary Studies
Professor Jeremy Chow
Assistant Professor of Literary Studies
Department of English
jhc034@bucknell.edu

Music (Major & Non-Major)

Professor Nicholas Roseth
Assistant Professor of Music
Department of Music
ner008@bucknell.edu

Brenda Ross
Academic Assistant
Department of Music
bross@bucknell.edu

Theatre
Mark (Hutch) Hutchinson
Co-Director of Theatre–Technical Coordinator
Department of Theatre and Dance
mwh012@bucknell.edu

Arts Merit Scholarship Requirements

Checklist

Access the Class of 2029 Scholarship Application

Apply now

Arts Merit Weekend

Feb. 14–15, 2025

Bucknell University's Arts Merit Weekend is an opportunity for talented artists to meet professors in their discipline, get their admissions questions answered and complete any required auditions for their specific artistic department.

Invitations to Arts Merit Weekend are for the purpose of an interview or audition for the Arts Merit Scholarship only. The invitation-only event is required for Regular Decision students selected as finalists for Bucknell's Arts Merit Scholarship. If you cannot attend, please contact the relevant faculty liaison (see list above) immediately so that alternate arrangements can be made.

Admitted Early Decision I and II Arts Merit Scholarship recipients are invited to attend but are not required.

Future Dates:

  • Feb. 13-14, 2026
  • Feb. 12-13, 2027

Find the day-by-day schedule here.

Arts Merit Scholarship Participation Expectations

If awarded an Arts Merit Scholarship, students will need to meet the participation expectations outlined below.

Contact Details

Office of Admissions

Hours

Monday – Friday: 08:30 a.m. - 04:30 p.m.
Saturday: Varies
Sunday: Closed