Let us prove just how much we believe in you.

You’ve worked hard. We’d hate for a little thing like money to be the roadblock between you and your dreams. Schmidt Vocal Competition winners who choose to pursue a career in music may be eligible for need-based scholarship assistance to their college or university of choice.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Singers who are first-, second-, or third-place winners of our high school regional competitions.
  • A committee reviews need by evaluating a family’s ability to pay.

  • Students are expected to major in Vocal Performance and maintain a 2.8 GPA on a 4.0 grading scale.

  • Schmidt Vocal Arts scholarships are typically used to close gaps left by other sources of funding, also known as “last dollar” scholarships.

  • SVA offers some merit-based college scholarships if the applicant has no “unmet” need.

  • SVA scholarship funding is typically for four years of undergraduate study at most music-granting universities and conservatories in the United States.

  • SVA does not offer funding for graduate studies.

Where are our Schmidt Vocal Scholarship recipients?

We are thrilled to provide the boost to help so many worthy singers attend their chosen school and provide support and counseling to secure their college financing. Numerous national conservatories and universities are represented by Schmidt Vocal Scholarship recipients, including: Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Carnegie Mellon University, Curtis Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes School of Music, Miami University, New England Conservatory of Music, Northwestern University, Oklahoma City University, Peabody Institute, Stetson University, University of Cincinnati, Oberlin College, University of Michigan, and University of North Carolina School for the Arts. This is a representative list of schools; SVA is happy to support students at other music degree-granting institutions in the United States.

What forms do I need to fill out?

The 2026-2027 FAFSA will be available in October 2025. https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

In addition, if you are like our other singers, you may be applying to one of the colleges that require another financial aid application, called the CSS Profile. Don’t let the cost of the Profile keep you from filing! If your income is within their range, the application may be free, and will ensure that these colleges, with significant financing help, get the documents they require. It’s an intrusive look at your finances, but can pay off in the long term. https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/

Here’s the vocal major colleges that require it, or check the list here (all the Ivies too!)

https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatinginstitutions.aspx

  • Berklee College of Music
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Cleveland Institute of Music
  • Eastman School of Music
  • Ithaca College
  • The Juilliard School
  • Manhattan School of Music
  • Northwestern University
  • Oberlin College
  • Peabody Institute at Johns Hopkins University
  • Rice University
  • San Francisco Conservatory
  • University of Miami
  • University of Michigan
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • University of Southern California
  • Vanderbilt University