Application checklist

Submit the application form

Submit your application to the Kansas City Art Institute Office of Admissions, 4415 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64111. Applications are available in the office of admissions or may be submitted online or you can download forms to be printed from your personal computer.

Include the non-refundable application fee of $35 with the completed application form. The application will not be processed without receipt of the fee.

Compile your portfolio

Compile your portfolio for review. All applicants are required to have a portfolio review by an admissions officer. Students who wish to transfer as a sophomore or junior into a major department will also have their portfolio reviewed by the department chair. In addition, CDs, DVDs, or slides must be submitted to KCAI for permanent portfolio reference.

Request two letters of recommendation

Request two letters of recommendation from teachers, a high school counselor, or professional artist or employer. These individuals should be familiar with the your work and work ethic and be qualified to make evaluations of your past performance and potential growth. Recommendation forms are found in the application package.

Request official transcripts

Request official transcripts, containing the official school seal, be mailed directly to the KCAI Admissions Office from each high school and/or college previously attended. A GED is a suitable substitute for a high school diploma. Request that official copies of GED scores be mailed to the KCAI Admissions Office.

Submit standardized test scores

Test scores are required for admission for all first-year students and some transfer students. Submit standardized test scores from either Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) to the Office of Admissions. A minimum combined score of 1425 is required for the SAT (or 950 without writing test), and a minimum composite score of 20 is required for the ACT. Official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) must be submitted by international students or by U.S. citizens whose first language is not English. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 is required. KCAI codes: ACT-002277; SAT-006330.

Prepare a statement of purpose

Prepare a statement of purpose, a brief one-page or two-page essay providing insight into your goals, interests, educational and artistic background.

Personal interview
The personal interview may be arranged when the portfolio review is conducted on campus. If it is not possible to arrnage a personal interview, the interview may take place on the phone, during an on-site school visit or at a National Portfolio Day.

Honorable dismissal forms

After acceptance by KCAI, first-time students are to forward a copy of the honorable dismissal form to their high school counselor, or of a transfer student to the academic affairs area and student affairs area of the most recent college. In addition, both first-time and transfer students are asked to complete a form themselves. Froms are to be submitted to the KCAI Office of Admissions.