Admit rate has ranged 58%–79% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) is Boston’s public art school—a scrappy, studio-intensive institution where creativity is treated as a serious discipline. With a 76% acceptance rate, it’s accessible but rigorous, known for powerhouse programs in illustration, film production, and design. Students thrive in a no-frills, urban environment where the city’s museums and galleries serve as extensions of the classroom.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,831
In-state tuition
$15,400
Out-of-state tuition
$43,400
Housing
40% on-campus
Location
Boston, MA (urban campus)
Top Majors
Illustration (21%), Film (16%), Design (9%)
Acceptance Rate
76%
Graduation Rate
69%
Student-Faculty Ratio
9:1
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$43,582
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
1.8×
Median debt at graduation
$25,755
Graduation rate
69%
First-year retention
89%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
68%
Pell (lower-income) share
43%
First-generation share
23%
Endowment / student
$11,092
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Design and Applied Arts$34,298
Architecture$33,993
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas$32,563
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$26,353
Fine and Studio Arts$25,932
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
1
Per 1,000 students
0.55
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
91
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
25°F
Annual rain
49"
Annual snow
31.4"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
28
Scholarly works
277
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.3%
Bottom → top quintile
20%
From bottom quintile
7%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Massachusetts College of Art and Design?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design's acceptance rate is approximately 76% (Boston, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Massachusetts College of Art and Design cost?
At Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,100 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design enrolls approximately 1,831 undergraduate students.
Where is Massachusetts College of Art and Design located?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA.
Admissions
MassArt’s admissions process is test-optional—SAT/ACT scores aren’t considered, even for merit scholarships. The Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovers around 76% (2024 data), making it moderately selective but far from cutthroat. Most admitted students submit portfolios showcasing strong technical skills and conceptual depth, with illustration and design being the most competitive programs. The April 15 application deadline is firm, though rolling admissions continue until spaces fill.
MassArt’s curriculum is hands-on from day one, with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio ensuring close mentorship. The most popular majors reflect its strengths:
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Standout facilities include glassblowing studios, printmaking shops, and a dedicated animation lab. Liberal arts requirements—philosophy, film studies, civic engagement—are intentionally cross-disciplinary, pushing students to contextualize their work. Alumni praise the faculty, many of whom are working artists with ties to Boston’s galleries and studios.
Life at MassArt is urban and self-directed. Only 40% of students live on campus (mostly freshmen), with the rest renting in Boston’s artsy neighborhoods like Jamaica Plain. The vibe is collaborative, not collegiate—think late-night studio sessions rather than football games. Proximity to schools like Emerson and Northeastern means access to their parties, but MassArt’s own social scene revolves around gallery openings, film screenings, and DIY zine fairs. The student-run Artward Bound program connects undergrads with local public schools for teaching gigs.
The six-year graduation rate is 69%, slightly above the national average for art schools. Early-career salaries are modest (median $24,364 at one year post-grad), but climb to $39,463 by the five-year mark as alumni build freelance portfolios or land studio jobs. Notable alumni include Shepard Fairey (OBEY Giant) and Natalie Frank (award-winning painter), though many grads pursue less visible careers in education, advertising, or UX design.
As a public institution, MassArt is a relative bargain for Massachusetts residents ($14,300 tuition). Out-of-state students pay $41,100, still below private art schools. 90% of students receive financial aid, with average grants covering $8,084 annually. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. after aid is $24,159—manageable for many, though the majority (74%) still take out loans. Work-study jobs in campus galleries or design labs help offset costs.
MassArt is Boston’s only public art college, offering a rare blend of affordability and prestige in a city teeming with creative opportunities. Its no-nonsense approach—prioritizing studio time over gen eds—appeals to students who want to immerse themselves in making art without distractions. The location is unbeatable: a 10-minute walk to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, with internships at places like PBS or Hasbro easily accessible by subway. For artists who thrive on independence and urban energy, it’s a pragmatic choice with soul.
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