MassArt vs Art Center College of Design

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) and Art Center College of Design (ArtCenter) stand out as premier institutions for aspiring artists and designers. While both offer a vibrant creative environment and a strong focus on artistic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. MassArt, located in the heart of Boston, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, providing a diverse and inclusive learning community. ArtCenter, situated in Pasadena, California, has a more selective admissions process and a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit and collaborative atmosphere. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details on acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your unique aspirations and goals.
Art Center College of Design logo

Art Center College of Design

Massachusetts College of Art and Design logo

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Overview

Location Pasadena, California Boston, Massachusetts
Campus setting City: Midsize City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 85.0% 86.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.6% 78.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $90
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 982 2,433
Total number of admissions given out 742 1,914
Admitted students who chose to enroll 269 387
Yield rate 36.3% 20.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $72,066
In state: $31,900

Out of state: $57,500
Average net price $50,420 $24,772
Tuition $47,334
In state: $1,030

Out of state: $26,630
Room & board $14,800
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

64.0%
Average amount $17,667
90.0%
Average amount $7,161
Students receiving federal student loan 39.0%
Average amount $5,367
62.0%
Average amount $5,263
Students taking out private loans 2.0%
Average amount $38,675
21.0%
Average amount $19,122

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,028
Men 41.7% Women 58.3%
1,778
Men 26.6% Women 73.4%
Graduate students 291
Men 42.6% Women 57.4%
129
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 45.4% 5.6%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A 919
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Mississippi Connecticut New Hampshire New York Maine

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Communications Technology
  • Architecture
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Architecture
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 8:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 75.9% 74.0%
Dropout rate 9.8% 25.7%
Transferred out 8.6% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,017
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $57,513
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,536
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $27,282
Architectural Sciences and Technology (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,380
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,126
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
Mechanical Engineering Related Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,973
  • Year 2: $81,702
  • Year 3: N/A
Engineering-Related Fields (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,061
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,685
  • Year 2: $20,824
  • Year 3: N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $11,851
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $17,249
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,977
  • Year 2: $38,721
  • Year 3: $44,070
Design and Applied Arts (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $42,944
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,792
  • Year 2: $34,298
  • Year 3: $42,111
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,463
  • Year 2: $32,563
  • Year 3: $41,944
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,300
  • Year 2: $25,932
  • Year 3: $30,475
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,370
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: $28,314
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: N/A