Mission Statement
Memphis College of Art is a professional center of art and design education, dedicated to preparing individuals for lives of creating, problem solving, and critical thinking.

Purpose
Artmaking is and has always been one of the most powerful and enduring endeavors of humankind. Every people, every culture, every era has made art—in every circumstance.

Education is as essential to the social condition as art is to the human condition. Through education we preserve, impart, and expand our collective disciplines and wisdom. 

As an institute of higher learning, we are committed to two traditions: the professional artist’s tradition, which requires mastery of the skills, tools and technologies of the visual arts; and the liberal arts tradition, which requires education in the truest sense, not only imparting facts and ideas, but also fostering critical appraisal of them. 

History
Founded in 1936, Memphis College of Art is a professional center of art and design education, dedicated to preparing individuals for lives of creating, problem solving and critical thinking. Small by choice and purpose, MCA is a cultural wellspring of creating, nurturing and educating artists of all levels. Located within 342-acre Overton Park, MCA offers state of the art facilities, excellent faculty, interdisciplinary programs and cutting edge exhibitions to the public and those pursuing BFA, MFA, MAT and MAArtEd degrees. It is one of only four independent, regionally and nationally accredited art colleges in the south and is the only one to offer graduate degrees.

Accreditation
MCA is accredited regionally and nationally by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).

Campus
The MCA campus is located at 1930 Poplar Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee 38104-2764. Our main building, Rust Hall is located within 342-acre Overton Park in midtown Memphis. Four student residences are adjacent to the Park: Metz Hall at 149 North Barksdale Avenue, At the Park at 165 North Rembert Avenue, Parkside at 1969-1973 Poplar Avenue and Overton House at 1951 Poplar Avenue. The Graduate Center at 1939 Poplar Avenue houses the MFA program. Our newest gallery, on the street, located in downtown Memphis at 338 South Main, is on the Memphis Trolley line and in the gallery district.

Students
A diverse population of students represents 25 states including Alaska and New York, and five foreign countries including Nigeria and Ukraine. 60% are from the mid-south. Students serious about a career in art choose an independent college of art to study with other serious art students in dedicated facilities and with all the resources available to provide a challenging art education and a directed career path.

Calendar
Two 15-week semesters begin in August and January and three summer sessions from mid May to July. Applications for undergraduate study are accepted for fall and spring semesters on a rolling basis. Scholarships are available based on merit and need through the application process. Applications for our named full-tuition award are due by March 31 each year for fall semester applicants.

Classes
The average class size is around 17 with a 10 to 1 student to faculty ratio.

Faculty
There are 59 full and part-time faculty members. 93% of full-time teaching faculty have terminal degrees in their field.

Financial Assistance
93% of students receive some type of financial assistance, and 74% receive loans. More than two million dollars are awarded annually in institutional aid. Assistance programs include scholarships, loans, work study, and grants. 38% of students that are Tennessee state residents are Lottery Scholarship recipients.