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Online MFA Programs

Programs whose official award is an MFA and whose official page documents online or hybrid delivery. Low-residency MFAs are labelled as low residency, not as fully online.

All online art degreesLow-residency MFA

Many MFAs described as online require residencies, critiques on site or a thesis exhibition. The residency details are shown for each program.

What “online” means for each program

Each listing states what is taught online and what is not: mandatory campus studios, residencies, in-person assessment, local placements, live attendance and time-zone requirements. Where a requirement is not published it is shown as not published, not as “none”.

Fully online academic instruction (7)

Teaching is fully online. Read the details: assessment, placements and live sessions can still require presence.

  • Fine Art (MFA)

    Academy of Art University · Master of Fine Arts in Fine Art MFA

    Fully online instructionCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    $1,551 per credit, domestic students, Fall 2026-Summer 2027 (+1 more)

  • Illustration (MFA)

    Academy of Art University · Master of Fine Arts in Illustration MFA

    Fully online instructionCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    $1,551 per credit, domestic students, Fall 2026-Summer 2027 (+1 more)

  • Art Education (MFA)

    Academy of Art University · Master of Fine Arts in Art Education MFA

    Fully online instructionCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    $1,551 per credit, domestic students, Fall 2026-Summer 2027 (+1 more)

  • Media Design Master of Fine Arts

    Full Sail University · Master of Fine Arts in Media Design MFA

    Fully online instructionCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Tuition not published

  • Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA)

    Liberty University · Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design (MFA) MFA

    Fully online instructionCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: Page states some courses may include scheduled meeting times, travel to campus, or required login sessions; exclusions apply.Local placement: 180-hour internship under a professional supervisor plus a 90-hour practicum; location not stated.

    $600 per credit, 2026-2027

  • Interdisciplinary Media Arts, MFA (Online)

    Lindenwood University · Master of Fine Arts in Interdisciplinary Media Arts MFA

    Fully online instructionCampus studio: not requiredLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: No residency requirement.

    $630 per credit, year not stated on page

  • M.F.A. in painting

    Savannah College of Art and Design · Master of Fine Arts in Painting MFA

    Fully online instructionCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Tuition not published

Low-residency programs (22)

Mostly distance study with required periods on site. Never fully online.

  • MFA in Visual Art

    Azusa Pacific University · Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: summer residency each year (Summer I term); January weekend not confirmed on the catalog page · three weeks in the Summer I term (May/June) · Azusa, California (APU)

    Tuition not published

  • Bard MFA (Milton Avery Graduate School of the Arts)

    Bard College · master of fine arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: requiredLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: three consecutive summers · eight intensive weeks each summer · Bard College campus, Annandale-on-Hudson, NYResidency extra costs: The tuition page lists per-summer-session fees such as a studio fee and optional on-campus housing.

    $20,754 per term, Summer 2026 (+1 more)

  • Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts

    Belmont University · Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: 23-day Summer Residency and 4-day Winterim Residency · 23 days (summer) and 4 days (winter) · Belmont University campus, Nashville

    Tuition not published

  • Visual Arts, MFA

    Clark University · Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: June and January residencies · about ten days (January 7-16, 2027; June 18-27, 2027) · Clark University Campus, Worcester, Massachusetts (June); MASS MoCA, North Adams, Massachusetts (January)

    Tuition not published

  • Master of Fine Arts in Image Text

    Cornell University · Master of Fine Arts in Image Text MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: requiredLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: three summer sessions · five weeks each · Cornell AAP, Ithaca

    Tuition not published

  • MFA (Interdisciplinary, Low-Residency)

    Emily Carr University of Art + Design · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive sessions requiredInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: two immersive summer residencies · Vancouver (Emily Carr University)In-person assessment: Thesis project culminating in a final exhibition and defense.

    Tuition not published

  • Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Studio Arts

    Institute of American Indian Arts · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not requiredLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: two intensive on-campus residency periods per year (summer and winter) · an immersive week (summer residency) · IAIA campus in Santa Fe, NM

    Tuition not published

  • Low-Residency MFA in Visual Art

    Maharishi International University · Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: each of the five semesters (each summer and winter) · two weeks · Maharishi International University, Fairfield, Iowa

    Tuition not published

  • Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art (MFA), Low Residency option

    Maine College of Art & Design · Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: Summer Intensive plus additional intensives and research field trips (schedule not detailed on page) · eight-week Summer Intensive · Portland, Maine

    $1,492 per credit, year not stated on page

  • Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts (low residency)

    Maine Media College · Master of Fine Arts in Media Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: 2 five-day MFA retreats each year, in May and November · five daysIn-person assessment: Thesis final projects presented and discussed in public

    Tuition not published

  • M.F.A. in Studio Art Low-Residency (MFAST)

    Maryland Institute College of Art · Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: four summers; winter sessions each January · six-week summer residency; winter sessions over a long weekend · MICA, Baltimore

    Tuition not published

  • Graphic Design and Illustration Visual Arts (MFA)

    Marywood University · Master of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Illustration Visual Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: four summer residencies over the program · two weeks each · Marywood University, Scranton, PA

    Tuition not published

  • Fine Arts Low Residency MFA

    Massachusetts College of Art and Design · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: Three intensive on-campus summer residencies bookend and divide the two academic years. · On campus at MassArt, BostonIn-person assessment: The final residency culminates in a public thesis exhibition and artist talk.

    $945 per credit, 2026-27

  • Master of Fine Arts (MFA), visual arts

    Memorial University of Newfoundland (Grenfell Campus) · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: On-campus intensive in the first spring and a second on-campus intensive the following spring · May and June of the spring semester (first intensive) · Grenfell Campus, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, Corner BrookIn-person assessment: The final project is presented at Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, during the second fall and/or winter term.

    Tuition not published

  • Low Residency MFA in Visual Studies

    Pacific Northwest College of Art at Willamette University · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: three consecutive summers · 6-8 week · Portland, Oregon

    Tuition not published

  • Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts

    School of the Art Institute of Chicago · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: three consecutive summers · six weeks · Chicago

    Tuition not published

  • Visual Narrative, MFA

    School of Visual Arts · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: requiredLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: three summers · eight weeks each (full time) · School of Visual Arts, New York City

    Tuition not published

  • M.F.A. Major in Communication Design

    Texas State University · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: Each semester · Multiple-day residency · On the Texas State campus

    Tuition not published

  • MFA in Illustration

    University of Hartford · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: summer on-campus sessions plus traveling contact periods in spring and fall · two weeks on campus in the summer · University of Hartford campus, West Hartford, Connecticut, plus travel locations

    Tuition not published

  • MFA in Photography

    University of Hartford · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: summer on-campus sessions plus traveling contact periods in spring and fall · two weeks on campus in the summer · University of Hartford campus, West Hartford, Connecticut, plus travel locations

    Tuition not published

  • MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts (low-residency)

    University of Nevada, Reno · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not requiredLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: each winter and summer · ten-day · University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe

    Tuition not published

  • MFA in Visual Art

    Vermont College of Fine Arts · Master of Fine Arts in Visual Art MFA

    Distance study with required residenciesCampus studio: not requiredLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: 4 semesters, 5 nine-day residencies · nine-day

    $15,631 per semester, current (page undated)

Hybrid programs (2)

Part online, part in person. Never fully online.

  • M.F.A. Design

    University of Wisconsin-Stout · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Blended with required campus elementsCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Tuition not published

  • Master of Fine Arts

    Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design · Master of Fine Arts MFA

    Blended with required campus elementsCampus studio: not publishedLive attendance not publishedInternational enrolment: Not published

    Residency: Some in-person seminars

    NZ$11,802 per year, domestic students, 2027 (+1 more)

31 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.