How to apply for art and design at Kansas State University: a foundation year and spring portfolio review for the BFA in Studio Art or Visual Communication Design, a selective interior design BS, with requirements and timelines for students from China, Canada and transfer students

Kansas State University (K-State), in Manhattan, Kansas, teaches art and design mainly in two places: the Department of Art in the College of Arts and Sciences (Studio Art and Visual Communication Design) and the College of Architecture, Planning and Design (APDesign), which offers an interior design bachelor’s. This guide uses K-State’s website and is for students at high schools in China (including A-Level, IB and AP), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Department of Art degrees

• BFA in Studio Art: for future professional artists, art teachers or designers; 120 credits. Areas include ceramics, digital and expanded media, drawing, metalsmithing and jewelry, painting, photography and printmaking. The flyer for fall 2026 onward lists 13 foundation credits, 21 concentration credits (introductions to drawing, digital and expanded media, printmaking, oil painting, ceramics, metalsmithing and jewelry, and digital photography), 9 credits at the 500–600 level, 6 credits of research studios (junior and senior spring), 15 art elective credits and 12 art history credits.
• BFA in Visual Communication Design (formerly Graphic Design): centered on typography, with courses in VCD fundamentals, typography and design principles, methods and processes, design for digital media I and II, digital photography, storytelling in design, design and context, two capstone courses, BFA portfolio and professional practices, and graphic design history. Students are encouraged to intern between junior and senior year.
• BA: a broader degree with a focus in studio art or art history, suited to students combining art with another major.
• Equipment: most art courses, including foundations, require an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription; Visual Communication Design also requires a Mac laptop of at least 13 inches (14 preferred, minimum specs and equivalent Windows models listed) and a backup solution.

2. Portfolio: reviewed after you enroll

• Foundation year: every BFA student completes a one-year foundation program of four studio courses and a one-credit careers seminar (ART 105, 174, 180, 194, 200).
• Spring portfolio review: in the spring semester in which they complete the foundation requirements, BFA students submit a portfolio for review to be admitted to their chosen concentration (Studio Art or Visual Communication Design). BA students take the same foundation courses but do not need a portfolio review.
• Number of pieces and format for the review are not stated on the pages we read; ask the department (art@k-state.edu).
• Whether a portfolio is needed at admission: neither the department pages nor Admissions’ “majors with different requirements” table lists extra requirements for art; confirm with Admissions.

3. APDesign: BS in Interior Design

• The college offers an accredited four-year BS in Interior Design for high school graduates and transfers. It also admits high school graduates to five-year master’s degrees in architecture, industrial design, interior architecture and landscape architecture, not covered here.
• Selective: Admissions states these programs admit selectively based on academic performance and space, fall entry only. The college reviews high school applicants on cumulative GPA and the transcript; the average GPA of admitted students is 3.75. The page does not mention a portfolio.
• Deadline: February 1 for the interior design BS and five-year master’s; December 1 is the priority date for U.S. freshmen.
• International students: if English is not your primary language, proof of English proficiency must reach International Admissions before February 1; students who attend the English Language Program must finish it and a full semester of university courses before applying to APDesign.
• The college page lists a USD 40 application fee; the international application guide lists USD 80 (below). Check the application system.

4. Deadlines and materials (international)

• How to apply: K-State’s application or the Common App.
• Fee and priority dates (international guide, no year stated): USD 80 nonrefundable; priority dates for admission and scholarships May 1 for fall and December 1 for spring. Interior design follows the February 1 date above.
• Documents: transcripts from high school and any later study, with English translations; a passport copy; an affidavit of support and bank statement for the I-20.
• Tests: optional, but some freshman scholarships require ACT or SAT scores.

5. English

• K-State says English is not an admission requirement but must be met before taking courses, otherwise students start in the English Language Program; interior design is an exception (see above).
• Scores that exempt you (within 2 years): IELTS 6.5; TOEFL 79 (before January 21, 2026) or 4.5 (after); Duolingo 110; PTE 53; SAT ERW 460; ACT English 21; Cambridge B2 First A or C1 Advanced A–C; AS/A-Level English Language C; IB English A Group 1 4+ or English B HL 6+.

6. Students at high schools in China

• How the Gaokao or art exams are used is not published, nor is a minimum grade for international freshmen; ask Admissions.
• AP, IB and Cambridge A-Level/AS credit is available through K-State’s exam credit lookup; ask the department whether art exams count toward foundation courses.

7. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver)

• Grade requirements for BC or other Canadian curricula are not published; apply as an international student.
• The English page lists no waiver for Canada; use the scores above or take the placement test on arrival.

8. Transfer students

• University rules: 24 college credits makes you a transfer; at least a 2.0 GPA on transferable courses, and with fewer than 24 credits also a 3.25 high school GPA or ACT 21 (SAT 1060); up to 65 credits from community colleges.
• Art BFA: the 2026 BFA flyer says transfer students may meet foundation requirements with equivalent courses from other institutions, then submit a portfolio in the spring review.
• Interior design: transfers are admitted on college GPA with transcripts from all institutions; the college recommends contacting its advisors (myapd@k-state.edu) about which courses count.

9. Costs and scholarships

• 2026-2027 out-of-state estimate, Manhattan campus: tuition and mandatory fees USD 31,446, on-campus housing and food USD 13,216, books and supplies USD 1,052, transportation USD 1,150, personal USD 2,088, total on campus USD 48,952. First-year students must live on campus. Art course fees were not on the pages we read.
• Department of Art scholarships for incoming freshmen and transfers: competitive, awarded through portfolio review, amounts depending on merit and funds. You must be enrolled in K-State art courses as an art major the following fall. Submit 3–6 works, 1–3 images each, with title, medium and size, combined into one PDF of up to 20 MB named with your full name; link video or animation on Vimeo or YouTube.
• Spring 2027 dates: freshmen register in the K-State Scholarship Network (KSN) by February 1, 2027; transfer and international students by March 15; applications due March 15, with late or incomplete ones not considered; winners announced mid-April and accept in KSN by May 1. Winners not registered in KSN forfeit the award. Awards are usually split between fall and spring.
• University scholarships: reviewed automatically when you apply; international students’ KSN applications are due March 15.

Checklist

Students in China:

• Apply by May 1 for fall (February 1 for interior design, with English proof by then); send transcripts, translations and financial documents
• Prepare 3–6 works and apply for the art scholarship by March 15, 2027, registering in KSN
• Take the foundation year and submit a spring portfolio for a BFA concentration; ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

Students in Canada (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply as an international student with English scores; ask about BC grade requirements

Transfer students:

• Ask the department whether your courses meet foundation requirements; register in KSN and apply for the art scholarship by March 15

Sources: Kansas State University, Department of Art: Studio Art; Visual Communication Design; BFA Studio Art flyer (from fall 2026); Art scholarships; Scholarships for incoming freshmen and transfers; APDesign admissions; Majors with different requirements; International applicants; International application guide; English proficiency; Transfer requirements; 2026-2027 Manhattan campus costs; K-State Scholarship Network. Costs are for 2026-2027; international priority dates do not state a year. Check K-State’s website for the latest.