Parsons School of Design Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

Parsons School of Design is very selective when it comes to admissions, hence students must be academically excellent along with having a creative spirit in order to secure their spot in the university. Strong academic records, an impressive portfolio, and a personal statement are required to meet the Parsons School of Design admission requirements. Students who are experienced in fields like graphic design, painting, or sculpture have an upper hand. Some other attributes that make an application stand out are teamwork, the ability to accept constructive criticism, collaboration with peers, instructors, and industry professionals, and more. Also, the candidate must be a multi-tasker and have the ability to manage workload.

Listed below are some of the factors that can help candidates boost their chances of getting into Parsons School of Design:

• Outstanding academic record;
• Strong portfolio;
• Statement of purpose;
• Strong letters of recommendation;
• Extracurricular activities; and
• Interview.

Based on the ratio of admissions to applications, the Parsons School of Design acceptance rate stands at 63%. Since, the stats are on the higher end, we can conclude that Parsons is a moderately competitive university to get in, as it admits more than half of the applicants. Once an applicant fulfills the Parsons School of Design admission requirements, ie; competitive grades, standardized test scores, English language requirements as well as relevant documents, they are most likely to secure an admission in the university. However, students must not take this lightly and apply to Parsons within the deadlines in order to get enrolled as a student.

Note: The data has been derived from unofficial sources and is subjected to changes.

Parsons School of Design offers programs for international students on the undergraduate and graduate level as well as associate’s degrees for professionals. Listed below are the best known Parsons School of Design programs for overseas applicants:

• Art & Design;
• Fashion & Technology;
• Urban Design;
• Fine Arts; and
• Management.

Parsons School of Design offers undergraduate, graduate and associate’s degrees for professionals through its academic schools, namely Art & Design, History & Theory, Art, Media, & Technology, Constructed Environments, Design Strategies, and Fashion. International students can study programs in the field of Art & Design, Fashion, Media, Design Management, Visual Arts, Urban Design and more.

Parsons School of Design accepts undergraduate applications through two intake seasons: Fall & Spring. Whereas, graduates can apply only for Fall semester admissions. Listed below are the Parsons School of Design application deadlines for international students:

1) Undergraduate Deadlines:

2) Graduate Deadlines:

While applying for Parsons School of Design admissions, candidates must submit the following documents:

• Academic transcripts;
• Proof of English language proficiency;
• Essay;
• Statement of purpose  (SOP);
• Letters of recommendation  (LOR);
• Resume/CV;
• Portfolio; and
• Standardized test scores (not mandatory).

FIT and Parsons School of Design are renowned institutions offering unique campus cultures and various academic programs. While they share a great reputation, there are subtle differences between the two universities. The below table compares the rankings, fees and acceptance rate of FIT and Parsons School of Design. Overall this information could be useful for students who are considering them.

Here is the comparison highlighting the differences between the Universities:

(The comparison of fees was between the BTech course for UG and the MBA course for PG)

Yes, Parsons School of Design automatically considers international students holding an F-1 visa or J-1 visa for partial tuition scholarships, based on a holistic review of their application. Also, it includes the review of auditions and portfolios when required. Parsons School of Design scholarships for international students are awarded on the basis of merit, and thus financial need is not taken into consideration.

Parsons School of Design is one of the most well-known design schools in the US. It is ranked #204 in Best National Universities by the prestigious US News & World Report in the 2024 edition. Parsons has also been awarded the rank #190 in Best Value Schools, and #158 in Best Colleges for Veterans by the same ranking body. According to QS World University Rankings by Subject, Parsons School of Design is ranked at the spot #4.

Below is the application process for Parsons School of Design for international studnets: 

Step 1: Applicants are requested to apply through common application portal. 

Step 2: Applicants must complete all required fields and upload materials before their final submission of the applications.

Step 3: However Parsons and Parsons paris applicants must submit their portfolio through the online application center.

Step 4: If applicants are planning to apply using a school email address, then they must confirmto receive email from The New School Parsons. Some schools block email from outside their domains.

In order to secure an admission, all international graduate students are required to fulfill the Parsons School of Design admission requirements listed below:

• Completed online application along with USD 50 = INR 4,156* application fee;
• Mark sheets, or academic record for each institution attended;
• Proof of English language proficiency;
• Statement of purpose  (SOP);
• Letters of recommendation  (LOR);
• Resume/CV;
• Portfolio; and
• Interview (determined upon the review of application).

*1 USD = INR 83.13

When applying for Parsons School of Design admissions, all international students are required to pay the application fee. Listed below is the Parsons School of Design application fee, as per the choice of course:

Conversion Rate: 1 USD = INR 83.98

Parsons School of Design offers study programs in the field of Art & Design, Fashion, Media, Design Management, Visual Arts, Urban Design and more for their international audience on the undergraduate and graduate levels, along with associate’s degrees for professionals. Annual tuition fees required to pursue a degree course at Parsons is around 50L on an average, which can be considered extremely expensive as a study abroad option. Students can refer to the table listed below for course specific fees requirements:

Parsons School of Design is exclusively famous for courses in the field of Art & Design, Fashion, Media, Design Management, Visual Arts, Urban Design. It is interesting to note that Parsons was the first school to offer a degree course teaching the tenants of design thinking: the MS in Strategic Design and Management.

Parson School of Design admission requirements for international students comprise English exam scores as one of the major entry requirements. Parsons School accepts major English proficiency exam scores as a proof of proficiency in the language and students can refer to the table below for minimum score requirements, as per the course level:

In order to secure an admission, all international undergraduate students are required to fulfill the Parsons School of Design admission requirements listed below:

• Completed online application along with USD 75 = INR 6,234* application fee;
• Unofficial transcripts, mark sheets, or academic record for each institution attended;
• Proof of English language proficiency;
• Essays;
• Letters of recommendation (LOR); and
• Standardized test scores: SAT/ACT (not mandatory).

*1 USD = INR 83.13