Watkins College of Art, Design & Film

MS. ELLEN L. MEYER
PRESIDENT

Watkins Institute was founded in 1885 with a $100,000 bequest by Samuel Watkins to be held in trust by the State of Tennessee and used for the educational benefit of Nashvillians. The transition to Watkins College of Art, Design & Film began in 1977, when approval was received through the Tennessee Higher Education  Commission to offer associate degrees in fine arts and interior design. Today, Watkins is an independent visual arts institution offering studio-based Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Arts degrees and certificate programs in Art, Film, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Interior Design, and Photography. Community education programs for children, teens, and adults are offered year-round, along with public exhibitions, artist lecture series, and film screenings that are free and open to the public. Watkins’ 13-acre lakeside campus, just minutes from downtown Nashville, includes a 60,000 square foot academic building, lakeside boardwalk, and two residence halls.

Vital Statistics

Fall 2010 Enrollment: Full-Time - 270 Part-Time - 126
Percent of Students Receiving Financial Aid From Any Source: 75%
Tuition and Fees: $17,940
Room and Board: $6,000
Number of Residence Spaces: 96
Founded: 1885
Degrees Offered: A.F.A.; B.A.; B.F.A.; and Certificate in Film (for those who already hold a bachelor's degree)