How to apply to art and design at Montclair State University: portfolios after applying for the Illustration and Graphic Design BFAs, no portfolio for the Visual Arts and Fashion Design and Merchandising BAs, and a separate portfolio with two recommendations for Animation and Visual Effects, plus timelines for students from China, Canada and transfers

Montclair State University is in Montclair, New Jersey, about 12 miles from New York City. Most art and design degrees are offered by the Department of Art and Design in the College of the Arts. This guide summarizes what the university’s website says for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Degrees

• Illustration BFA: traditional and digital media, covering character design, concept art, worldbuilding, comics, children’s books and editorial work, with a required internship and a final-year exhibition and portfolio.
• Graphic Design BFA: four years of typography, branding, web, motion and print design, plus creative coding and UX/UI.
• Visual Arts BA: drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, metalwork, lens-based media, digital rendering and 3D printing, with a capstone; there is an Art Education concentration (P-12) and a BA/MAT option.
• Fashion Design and Merchandising BA: a focus in fashion design or fashion merchandising.
• Animation and Visual Effects BFA: the program page lists it in the College of Communication and Media, while the admissions and transfer pages list it with the College of the Arts programs that need an interview, audition or portfolio review. It covers 2D and 3D animation, game development, immersive storytelling and visual effects.

2. Which programs need a portfolio

• The department: only the Illustration and Graphic Design BFAs need a portfolio; the Visual Arts BA and the Fashion Design and Merchandising BA do not.
• Admissions: the first-year page lists Animation and Visual Effects, Illustration and Visual Communication Design among programs needing an interview, audition or portfolio review; the transfer page lists Animation and Visual Effects, Graphic Design and Illustration. After you apply, you receive an email explaining how and when to submit.
• Portfolio deadline: not given on the program pages; follow the email. Early action applicants in the College of the Arts may not get a decision by December 24 because of portfolio review timing.
• Admission: admission to the university does not guarantee a place in a College of the Arts program.

3. Illustration BFA portfolio

• Count: 15–20 works, each labeled with title, medium and year; recent work from the last two years is recommended.
• Required: 7–10 observational drawings (still life, landscape, life studies or direct observation), 3–5 portrait and figure drawings, at least one three-point perspective drawing of architecture, and sketchbook pages.
• Optional: a few sequential narratives, original character studies or conceptual illustrations, with no more than 3 character or sequential pieces.
• Do not include: fan art, licensed characters, or work copied from another artist’s photograph.
• Format: multi-page PDF, JPG or PNG, or a portfolio website or slideshow, 10MB or smaller and no Google Drive links; single images up to 2MB. You may be asked to bring originals to a campus interview.
• Originality: work must be your own; see the program page for the exact policy.

4. Graphic Design BFA portfolio

• Count: your 15 strongest pieces in any mix of drawing, painting, photography, collage, digital design, typography, illustration, motion or 3D; some work showing interest in graphic design, image-making or typography helps.
• Process: sketchbook pages, drafts and revisions are strongly encouraged and may be added beyond the 15 pieces.
• Labels: title, medium or format, and a short description of each project (school or personal, your role if collaborative, the concept or process).
• Avoid: work copied too closely from another style, anime or superhero work that only imitates an existing style, templates without original development, portfolios made up entirely of portraits or observation, and poor photos.
• Format: multi-page PDF, JPG or PNG, or a website or slideshow, 10MB or smaller, no Google Drive links.
• Originality: work must be your own; see the program page for the exact policy.

5. Animation and Visual Effects BFA

• Cover letter: one page on why you want to study animation and visual effects and your career goals.
• Work: 15–20 images, each labeled with title, year, your role if collaborative, medium and software; at least one observational drawing from life, not from a photo.
• Recommendations: two, at least one from a teacher.

6. Dates and fees (fall 2027)

• Domestic first-year: non-binding early action December 1, 2026, with decisions by December 24, 2026; regular admission and scholarship consideration March 1, 2027; spring 2027 by December 15, 2026.
• International first-year: early action December 1, 2026; scholarship consideration March 1, 2027; final deadline June 1, 2027 and I-20 request June 15 (recommended dates for students outside the US).
• Fee: USD 65, non-refundable; apply through the Montclair application or the Common App.
• Materials: high school transcripts (official translation if not in English), a counselor recommendation (strongly recommended for most programs; two for Animation and Visual Effects), and an essay; SAT/ACT optional.

7. English

• Minimums: TOEFL 70 or 4.0 on the new test; IELTS 6.0; Duolingo 95; PTE 48.
• Exemptions: citizens of, or graduates of high schools in, listed countries, including Canada (except Quebec).

8. Students at high schools in China

• Credential: the equivalency table lists the Senior High School Graduation Certificate.
• Gaokao and art exams: not addressed; ask international admissions.
• English: China is not on the exemption list, so students in local schools need a test score.

9. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• Credential: the table lists the High School Diploma.
• English: Canadian citizens (except Quebec) or graduates of high schools in listed countries are exempt.
• BC grade requirements: not published.

10. Transfer students

• Who counts: 16 or more college credits attempted after high school.
• Portfolio: the transfer page lists Animation and Visual Effects, Graphic Design and Illustration as needing an interview or portfolio review; instructions follow by email.
• Visual Arts BA: no portfolio; the program page says internal transfer students need a 2.75 GPA.
• Credit: 100-level or higher courses with C- or better transfer; up to 60 credits from two-year schools, no cap from four-year schools but 30 credits must be earned at Montclair. International transfers need a NACES course-by-course evaluation.

11. Costs and scholarships

• Tuition: F-1 and J-1 students pay out-of-state rates. The 2026-27 out-of-state on-campus estimate is about USD 51,808 (tuition 27,924, fees 1,222, plus housing, meals and other costs). Art course fees are not published.
• Aid: as a public university, Montclair does not give need-based aid to students on international visas.
• Scholarships: international first-year students may receive a Presidential Scholarship, awarded automatically on GPA, with amounts given at admission; apply by March 1 to be considered. Separate art scholarships are not published.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Fall 2027: apply by March 1 for scholarship consideration and by June 1 at the latest; fee USD 65
• Illustration or Graphic Design applicants submit the portfolio as the email instructs; Animation and Visual Effects applicants also need two recommendations
• TOEFL 70 (4.0 on the new test), IELTS 6.0 or Duolingo 95; ask how the Gaokao is used

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Confirm the English exemption and how BC grades are reviewed; same portfolio requirements

Transfer students:

• BFA applicants wait for the portfolio email; get a NACES evaluation for courses taken abroad

Sources: Montclair State University, Department of Art and Design; Illustration BFA; Graphic Design BFA; Visual Arts BA; Fashion Design and Merchandising BA; Animation and Visual Effects BFA; How to apply and dates; International first-year applicants; International transcripts and equivalency; International transfer applicants; Transfer students; International scholarships and aid; Undergraduate costs. Deadlines are for 2027 entry and costs for 2026-27. Check Montclair’s website for the latest.