Ringling College of Art and Design

Sarasota, FloridaRingling College of Art and Design admissions website ↗

Applies via: Common App

Homeschool test policySAT and ACT scores are not required for admissionSAT/ACT not required for admission; if taken, submission is encouraged because scores help with academic counseling. No score floor for general admission. All majors other than 2D/3D Character Animation use rolling admission with no application deadline; only that major has the Nov 1 / Jan 15 rounds (not year-stamped for 2026-27).

Next deadlineNov 1, 2026 · EA 1 (2D/3D Character Animation applicants)

Application deadlines

November 1, 2026

Early round (non-binding) — 2D/3D Character Animation only

2D/3D Character Animation applicants onlyNon-binding despite the school also calling it Early Decision (applicants still have until May 1 to confirm). PATTERN-PROJECTED: the Important Dates page still shows Nov 1, 2025 / Dec 15, 2025 — not year-stamped for 2026-27; re-check Aug 2026.

Decisions Dec 15, 2026

January 15, 2027

Regular Decision — 2D/3D Character Animation only

2D/3D Character Animation applicants onlyMaterials due Jan 15; decisions by April 1. All other majors are rolling with no application deadline. PATTERN-PROJECTED — not year-stamped for 2026-27.

Decisions Apr 1, 2027

Quick facts

Acceptance rate—

TranscriptRequired (official HS transcript; GED accepted; college transcripts for any college coursework; minimum 2.0 GPA). Homeschoolers satisfy the diploma/GED requirement via one of six paths (diploma, GED, 12 dual-enrollment credits, homeschool transcript with course descriptions/syllabi, ACT 15+/SAT 899+, or FLDOE Home Education Affidavit for FL residents)

ACT / SATSAT and ACT scores are not required for admission

Letters of recOptional (homeschoolers submit a formal letter from an appropriate non-family member)

Institution typeprivate

Application fee$70 domestic · $70 international

Non-refundable $70 application fee; fee waiver available with documentation from the applicant's school counselor. No separate portfolio/SlideRoom fee is published.

InterviewOptional portfolio review

Via a video appointment with an admissions counselor or at National Portfolio Day.

PortfolioRequired for all majors (optional only for Business of Art and Design)

Visual or written; submitted via the Common App Art/Arts Supplement to SlideRoom; locked once submitted; AI-generated work prohibited. Observational-drawing majors (Game Art, Virtual Reality Development) require 3–5 observational pieces.

Applicant guide

Homeschool applicants: A qualifying test score is one accepted way — not a requirement — for a homeschool applicant to establish secondary-completion equivalency (ACT 15+ or SAT 899+). A homeschool transcript with course descriptions, a diploma, a GED, 12 dual-enrollment credits, or (FL residents) an FLDOE Home Education Affidavit each satisfy the requirement instead, so no homeschooler is compelled to test.

Ringling College publishes homeschool-specific admission guidance. Homeschoolers must achieve a standard high school diploma, recognized by their local school district, or a GED. Where that is not provided, homeschooled applicants may request a professional judgement review by the Office of Admissions.

The academic catalog states the fuller pathway — a homeschool applicant must achieve and submit one of the following: a standard high school diploma recognized by their local school district; a GED diploma; a minimum of 12 college credits through dual enrollment; a homeschool transcript with corresponding course descriptions, syllabi, and/or curricular details; an ACT score of 15 or above or a SAT score of 899 or above; or an FLDOE Home Education Affidavit (for Florida residents only).

For letters of recommendation (optional for all applicants): homeschool applicants should submit a formal letter of recommendation from an appropriate non-family member. All other first-year requirements (Common App, $70 fee, portfolio via SlideRoom, 250–650-word essay, 2.0 minimum GPA) apply to homeschoolers the same as to other applicants.

Last updated 7/17/2026