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Financial aid/ Eligibility/ Quick links

Student Resources

DMI IS nationally accredited & accepts federal aid, THE gi BILL, THE TOP TEN PROGRAM, and scholarships

scholarships & aid

To fulfill our mission DMI works with all candidate students to make financing and attending the school possible, regardless of their resources, through a combination of programs below.

Please note that aid is an individualized process and the best way to fully understand your costs and the programs that are best suited to your needs is to apply for aid and have a consultation with our staff after completing the FAFSA. We encourage everyone to start with the FAFSA during the application process at DMI.

For any additional question regarding Financial Aid please contact Rhonda Rogers at 318-213-0164 or rrogers@dmi.edu.

Tuition

DMI has a need blind admissions process and offers a comprehensive set of student aid, scholarships and payment plan options that make attending possible for anyone eligible.

  • How to Apply for Federal Student Aid – To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants and loans, you need to complete the FAFSA at studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa. Once you apply and select DMI’s school code (042605) then we should receive your information within the next 5 business days. The Financial Aid Office will then check the following:
    • That the student is not in default
    • If selected for Verification, have the student submit all required documents.
    • That the student completed entrance counseling (if applicable)
    • That the student has completed all enrollment documents.
  • State Aid: Tops Tech Program (A Louisiana State scholarship that you may have qualified for).
  • The GI Bill®: DMI is Authorized to accept the GI Bill and associated family benefits.
  •  Private Scholarships: DMI is authorized to accept privately awarded scholarships.

Animation, Visual Effects & Interactive Content (AVEI) Creative Excellence Scholarship: To qualify, prospective students will need to submit 10-15 pieces of personal creative artwork. This work can be drawings and/or examples of traditional or digital animation, photography, graphic design, film-making or other creative digital media. For tips on submitting your portfolio, please contact us at info@dmi.edu

Interactive Software Development (ISD) Technical Excellence Scholarship: To qualify, students must submit at least 5 examples of original software code. They can be examples from previous software development courses or working examples of game prototypes. Key languages include: C, C#, C++ , Java, Java Script, etc. For tips on submitting your portfolio, please contact us at info@dmi.edu.

Advertising Design (AD) Professional Excellence Scholarship: to qualify, perspective students will need to submit portfolios must be submitted to the Scholarship Committee for their prospective program. Each portfolio will be reviewed by 2 individuals with expertise in that program. 50% of the Scholarship will be deducted from the first-year tuition the first day of class. The additional 50% of the Scholarship will be deducted from the second-year tuition on the first day of class your second year. If student are in good standing with their grades, attendance and financial accounts they remain eligible at the beginning of the second year.

  • Internal Need Based Aid: DMI offers campus need-based aid as part of our aid process.
  • Private Scholarships: DMI may be able to receive any private scholarships that a student may have, please ask us for details.
  • Campus Based Payment Plans: Take any balance with the school and pay it monthly while attending interest free. A small fee does apply.
  • Private Student Loans: Private loans can help finance your education at DMI and can be combined with other aid options.
DMI works with 2 different vendors for student loans:
  •  The US Department of Education-to apply for a federal loan, please visit fafsa.ed.gov. DMI’s school code is 042605. You must enter us as a school in order for us to receive your information. 
  • Sallie Mae – Please click here for more information 

The Veterans Benefits Administration offers a wide-variety of benefits and services to Veterans. Eligibility for most VA benefits is based upon discharge from active military service under other than dishonorable conditions.

Applying for your VA education benefits can be done in just a few steps:

  • Apply online if you know which benefit you want to use.
  • Visit your nearest VA regional office to apply in person.
  • Consult with the VA Certifying Official—who is usually in the Financial Aid office.
  • Call 1-888-GI BILL-1 (888-442-4551) to have the application mailed to you.

Eligibility info

To be eligible to receive federal student aid, you must:

  • Be a citizen or eligible noncitizen of the United States and have a valid Social Security Number
  • Have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, or have completed homeschooling.
  • Be enrolled in an eligible program as a regular student seeking a degree or certificate.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
  • Not owe a refund on a federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan.
  • Register (or already be registered) with the Selective Service System, if you are a male and not currently on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.
  • · Not have a conviction for the possession or sale of illegal drugs for an offense that occurred while you were receiving federal student aid (such as grants, work-study, or loans).
  • Many types of federal student aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant or subsidized loans where the government pays the interest while you are in college, also require you to have financial need. Additionally, once you have a bachelor’s degree or a first professional degree, you are generally not eligible for Pell.

DMI maintains Louisiana state approval with the Louisiana Board of Regents to operate as a post-secondary school.

Administrative staff work with the Executive Director to submit necessary documents to the Board of Regents by July 27 of each year.

State based aid includes TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students). Requirements are as follows:

  • Minimum High School GPA of 2.50 (GPA computed on core courses only)
  • Minimum ACT Score (or SAT Equivalent) of 17
  • Must enroll full time as a first time freshman, by the first semester following the first anniversary of high school graduation
  • Be a US citizen or permanent resident
  • Meet TOPS Louisiana Residency requirements

To apply for TOPS, first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Students who can verify ineligibility for Federal Grants may forgo the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and apply via online application

If you choose not to fill out the FAFSA, please contact the financial aid office on how to apply.

For more information please click here.

DMI offers internal merit based scholarships for those who submit a portfolio. DMI also offers an additional need based Scholarship for Worthy Students. DMI will review student aid reports generated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and will award scholarships to applicants with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of zero, and who qualify for dependent status.

Dependents are typically single and not supporting other dependents, although there are various exceptions for other circumstances. Additionally, applicants must meet academic standards including a minimum high school GPA of 2.0, an ACT score of 16 (to be considered for a need based scholarship) and achieve a 75% or 85% on the ISD or AVEI placement exams.

Quick links

Net Price Calculator
NSLDS Student Access Link
College Navigator

Salary Information

These statistics are national averages and can vary based on many factors such as location. Students should do their own research about their intended market and field.

Multimedia Artist & Animator

Multimedia Artist & Animator

$75,630 is the annual average wage of Multimedia Artists and Animators working in the motion picture and video industries. Theses statistics are from a 2016 US Bureau of Labor report.*

Computer Developers

computer developers

$85,680 is the annual average wage of Computer Programmers working in the computer system design and related services industries. Theses statistics are from a 2016 US Bureau of Labor report.**

Graphic Designers

Graphic Designer

A designer with medium experience earns between $45,000 and $55,000 in the US on average working in the graphic design related services industries.

Gainful Employment

AVEI Disclosure
ISD Disclosure
AD Disclosure

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