Massachusetts College of Art and Design: The Best Value in American Art Education

Massachusetts College of Art and Design, known as MassArt, holds a distinction that no other institution in American art education can claim: it is the only publicly funded, independent art and design college in the United States. Founded in 1873 as the Massachusetts Normal Art School, MassArt was established to train art teachers and improve the quality of design in American manufacturing. Today it has evolved into a comprehensive art and design college offering BFA, MFA, and graduate design programs, while retaining the public mission that makes it genuinely different from every other art school in the country.

That public mission translates directly into tuition. In-state students at MassArt pay approximately $14,000 per year for undergraduate tuition, compared to $57,000 or more at RISD, SAIC, or Pratt. Even out-of-state students pay around $36,000, which is significantly less than the private alternatives. For students who are serious about art and design but cannot or do not want to take on the debt that private art school typically requires, MassArt offers a genuinely compelling alternative. In 2025, Art and Object ranked MassArt fifth among the top undergraduate art schools in the United States, a ranking that reflects the quality of its programs rather than just its price.

Programs and Curriculum

MassArt offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) as its primary undergraduate degree, with majors in Painting, Sculpture, Photography, Printmaking, Illustration, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Fashion Design, Film/Video, Animation, Ceramics, Fibers, and Studio for Interrelated Media. The breadth of these offerings is impressive for a school of MassArt's size, and the programs benefit from dedicated facilities and faculty who are active practitioners.

The Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM) is one of MassArt's most distinctive programs, providing a framework for students whose work crosses disciplinary boundaries and resists categorization. SIM students work with performance, installation, video, sound, and any other medium that serves their practice, and the program has a strong tradition of producing artists who engage seriously with contemporary art discourse.

The MFA program is a two-year program that provides advanced studio space and close mentorship from faculty who maintain active professional practices. The MFA is available in Fine Arts and in Design, and the program benefits from MassArt's location in Boston, which has a significant art scene and strong connections to the broader New England arts community.

The Master of Design Studies (MDesS) is a research-oriented graduate program that combines design practice with critical inquiry, preparing graduates for careers in design research, education, and leadership.

The Boston Location

MassArt's campus on Huntington Avenue in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston is part of the Avenue of the Arts, a concentration of cultural institutions that includes the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Symphony Hall, and Northeastern University. This location gives MassArt students direct access to two of the finest art museums in the United States, and the broader Boston arts scene provides gallery visits, internships, and professional networking opportunities.

The MassArt Art Museum (MAAM), which opened in 2020, is a free contemporary art museum on the MassArt campus that presents exhibitions of contemporary art and design. The museum serves both the MassArt community and the broader public, and it provides students with direct experience of how contemporary art is presented and discussed in a professional museum context.

Boston's concentration of universities, including Harvard, MIT, and the Museum School, creates a rich intellectual environment that MassArt students can access through cross-registration agreements and shared cultural events. The city's relatively affordable cost of living compared to New York makes it possible for students to maintain a serious art practice without the financial pressure that characterizes study in more expensive cities.

The Public Mission in Practice

MassArt's public mission shapes its culture in ways that go beyond tuition. The school has a genuine commitment to diversity and access, and its student body reflects the diversity of Massachusetts in ways that more expensive private schools often do not. The school actively recruits students from underrepresented backgrounds and provides support services designed to help all students succeed.

The public mission also shapes the curriculum. MassArt's Art Education program, one of the strongest in New England, trains art teachers for public schools, reflecting the school's original purpose and its ongoing commitment to the idea that art education is a public good rather than a luxury. Graduates of the Art Education program teach in schools across Massachusetts and beyond, extending the school's impact far beyond its own campus.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

While MassArt's tuition is already significantly lower than comparable private schools, the school also offers financial aid, merit scholarships, and work-study opportunities. In-state students who qualify for need-based aid can reduce their costs further, making MassArt one of the most affordable serious art schools in the country.

Out-of-state students should research the New England Regional Student Program, which allows students from other New England states to attend MassArt at a reduced tuition rate, and the school's own merit scholarship programs, which are available to both in-state and out-of-state students.

The Bottom Line

MassArt is the best value in American art education, offering programs that compete with the best private art schools at a fraction of the cost. Its public mission, Boston location, strong faculty, and genuine commitment to access make it a compelling choice for students who want serious art and design education without the debt burden that private schools typically require. The school's ranking among the top five undergraduate art schools in the United States confirms that affordability and quality are not mutually exclusive.