Transferring to CCAD
CCAD OFFERS A SIMPLE, SUPPORTIVE TRANSFER PROCESS
Transferring schools can feel daunting, but not here. Our dedicated transfer admissions counselor will walk you through the process, help you evaluate your credits, and get you on track toward your BFA. We’re here to make the move smooth and straightforward.
HOW DO I TRANSFER COLLEGES?
Here’s everything you need to know about everything we need from you.
Apply through the CCAD Application or the Common App. The application fee is $50 and is nonrefundable. Contact the Admissions Office for information on fee waivers.
Your portfolio should showcase your creative skills and ideas. It can include anything you’ve created, designed, built, or written. It’s an expression of your talent, passion, and skills, so its contents are intentionally undefined, but it must include 8 to 15 pieces. The works that you include can be of a broad range, from character design sheets and illustrations to music videos and sculptures. Technical skill is important, but we also like to see pieces that are balanced with something else - like a concept, a narrative, or a type of function.
To make the most of your submission, consider collaging multiple images of a single piece—such as the front and back of a garment, close-up details, or different perspectives of a sculpture. We recommend submitting fully completed pieces that put your talents under the spotlight, but you’re also welcome to include sketches or rough drafts that show your creative process.
Talk to our dedicated transfer admissions counselor if you’re unsure what to include.
Find more tips on creating your art & design portfolio in our blog post or on our YouTube.
You must submit your official high school transcript. A school representative should send these on your behalf. Transcripts can be submitted directly from your school via Common App, Parchment, or sent through the mail in a sealed envelope. All paper credentials must be sent to:
Attn: Admissions Office
Columbus College of Art & Design
60 Cleveland Ave.
Columbus, OH 43215"
Undergraduate applicants from countries where English is not the sole official language must demonstrate proof of English proficiency by submitting scores directly from any of the following testing agencies:
TOEFL iBT minimum score: 61 (TOEFL code for CCAD: 1085)
IELTS total band score requirement: 6.0
PTE Academic minimum score: 45
ELS: completion of level 109
Duolingo minimum score: 90
We accept the TOEFL at-home and the IELTS online exams
International Transcript Evaluation
Official transcript evaluation for every high school and/or collegiate educational institution you’ve attended is required. CCAD requires a 2.5 GPA or higher. Please contact us if your GPA does not meet the minimum requirement and you’d still like to apply. We do not accept international transcripts directly. All transcripts from secondary (high) school and college/university, if applicable, must be sent to either ECE, One Earth, or WES for evaluation.
WES: Please order the Document-b-Document Evaluation or Course-by-Course Evaluation
ECE: Please order a general with GPA evaluation. Please have it sent to Columbus College of Art & Design. This can be indicated on the Report Delivery screen.
One Earth: Please order a general evaluation. Please have the completed report sent to [email protected].
Though not required, we recommend you submit any of the following items to help us learn more about you.
A written essay.
Official ACT or SAT scores.
Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate exam results. We encourage you to send results from either of these exams in case your scores qualify you for academic credit.
A letter of recommendation from a high school teacher, counselor, coach, employer or mentor. The letter should be from someone who knows you well, but is not a family member.
Which schools have Preferred Pathways with CCAD?
CCAD has articulation agreements with the community colleges listed below, making the transfer process easy.
Schools with Preferred Pathways
- Animation (transfer with AAS Interactive Media -- Video Game Art & Animation)
- Comics & Narrative Practice (transfer with AAS Interactive Media -- Video Game Art & Animation)
- Fine Arts (transfer with AAS Studio Art)
- Game Art & Design (transfer with AAS Interactive Media -- Video Game Art & Animation)
- Graphic Design (transfer with AAS Digital Design & Graphics)
- Illustration (transfer with AAS Studio Art)
- Interior Architecture & Design (transfer with AAS Architecture)
- Film & Video (transfer with AAB -- Film & Media Arts)
- Graphic Design (transfer with AAB -- Visual Communication Design, Graphic Design)
- Illustration (transfer with AAB -- Visual Communication Design, Illustration)
- Interior Architecture & Design (transfer with AAB, Interior Design)
- Fashion Design (transfer with AAS, Fashion Design and Retail Merchandising)
- Animation
- Graphic Design
- Illustration
- Graphic Design
Don’t see your school listed?
Get in touch with a counselor in our admissions office to discuss your credits and how CCAD can help you reach your creative career goals – [email protected] or 614.222.3261.
WHY TRANSFER TO CCAD?
Well, you’ll build a portfolio that stands out, connect with an industry-driven creative network, and gain the support of a dedicated transfer advisor who makes the transition seamless. Earning a bachelor’s degree also opens the door to greater career opportunities and earning potential. On average, bachelor's degree holders earn 31% more in their lifetimes than those with associate's degrees alone (Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce).Apply Now
