Massachusetts College of Art and Design
#8 Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 69% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,582 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $24,100 D
- 41% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 19.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $19.0 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $19.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,730,974.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $19.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Massachusetts College of Art and Design Matters
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public special-focus institution in Boston, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 1,831
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Communications, Education, Precision Production
Why students choose Massachusetts College of Art and Design
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $24,100 a year after grants and scholarships — 41% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,582 ten years after enrolling — 7% above the typical college, against $25,755 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.3% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 57% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.83 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a vibrant choice for students passionate about the arts and communications. With an enrollment of about 1,831 students and a 76% acceptance rate, it welcomes a diverse range of creative minds. Here, you can dive into studies that span Visual and Performing Arts, Communications, Education, and Precision Production, all of which are integral to the college’s identity.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, the financial outlook is promising. Graduates earn an average of $43,582 within ten years, which can provide a solid foundation for future endeavors. While 30% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating some financial need, the overall affordability of the education can help students focus on their careers without overwhelming debt.
When it comes to the practical side of things, the net price after aid is around $24,100, and the median debt is $25,755. This means that students can expect to graduate with a manageable financial burden, making it easier to thrive post-college. Those who tend to excel here are often those who are deeply committed to their craft and eager to engage with the artistic community in Boston.
Rankings
- #8 Best Communications Colleges in Massachusetts
- #18 Best Education Colleges in Massachusetts
- #26 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #28 Best Bachelor's Programs in Massachusetts
- #28 Best Master's Programs in Massachusetts
- #34 Best Colleges for Visual
- #34 Best Colleges for Graphic Design
- #34 Best Bachelor's in Visual
Can I Get In?
How selective Massachusetts College of Art and Design is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, located in Boston, Massachusetts, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 89%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,690
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.67
- First-Gen Students
- 23%
- Applicants
- 2,598
- Admitted
- 2,043
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Massachusetts College of Art and Design is $43,400, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,100. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,351 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,755 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $15,400
- Out-of-State
- $43,400
- Avg Net Price
- $24,100
- Median Debt
- $25,755
- Pell Grant Rate
- 30%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 51%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,351
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $17,636
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $18,513
- Family Income $110K+
- $31,882
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Massachusetts College of Art and Design — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Massachusetts College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Massachusetts College of Art and Design report median earnings of $43,582, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $27,090
- 8 Years
- $38,459
- 10 Years
- $43,582
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.59x
- Earning > $25K
- 53%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (198)
- 60%
- 100% (198)
- 60%
- 100% (198)
- 60%
- 100% (198)
- 60%
How Massachusetts Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Massachusetts College of Art and Design Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Massachusetts College of Art and Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $24,100/year ($96,400 total). Graduates earn $43,582 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,827,374 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,730,974 (19.0× your investment). The median debt is $25,755, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 69% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $96,400
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,827,374
- Net Return
- $1,730,974
- ROI Multiple
- 19.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $24,100
- Median Debt
- $25,755
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 69%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Massachusetts College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.34%, well above the typical college. About 6.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.34%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 19.8%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.7%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $133,555
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $191,732
- Investment Income
- $25,679
Top Programs
The fields Massachusetts College of Art and Design awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 82% $40,753 early-career
- Communications 11%
- Education 4% $38,691 early-career
- Precision Production 0%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Massachusetts College of Art and Design's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- COperations Manager$103,650 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CHealth & Safety Engineer$100,660 · 4% growthResilient 72
- CMechanical Engineer$99,510 · 10% growthResilient 72
- C+Industrial Engineer$99,380 · 12% growthResilient 72
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, located in Boston, Massachusetts, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. The graduation rate is roughly 69%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Massachusetts College of Art and Design is $43,400, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $24,100. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,351 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $25,755 in federal student loans.
Is Massachusetts College of Art and Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Massachusetts College of Art and Design report median earnings of $43,582, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Massachusetts College of Art and Design Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.34%, well above the typical college. About 6.7% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 19.8% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $98,300, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
- Moody Bible InstituteChicago, IL · Close peer62% grad $45,399 earn 83% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- North Greenville UniversityTigerville, SC · Close peer55% grad $43,035 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of MobileMobile, AL · Close peer56% grad $43,611 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Grace College and Theological SeminaryWinona Lake, IN · Close peer69% grad $45,411 earn 82% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Gardner-Webb UniversityBoiling Springs, NC · Close peer59% grad $48,039 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Mount OliveMount Olive, NC · Close peer50% grad $47,139 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Its economic connectedness score is 1.83, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note