MassArt vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand out as prominent institutions dedicated to nurturing artistic talent. While both share a commitment to excellence in art education, they offer distinct experiences shaped by their unique locations, academic strengths, and student demographics. MassArt, rooted in the vibrant cultural hub of Boston, boasts a higher acceptance rate and a larger student body, providing a diverse and inclusive learning environment. SFAI, nestled in the heart of San Francisco's art scene, offers a more selective admissions process and a smaller student population, fostering a close-knit community. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision in choosing the ideal fit for your artistic aspirations.
Massachusetts College of Art and Design logo

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

San Francisco Art Institute logo

San Francisco Art Institute

Overview

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

Admission

Acceptance rate 78.7% 94.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $70

Graduate: $90
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 2,433 169
Total number of admissions given out 1,914 160
Admitted students who chose to enroll 387
Yield rate 20.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $31,900

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

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

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

90.0%
Average amount $7,161
Students receiving federal student loan 62.0%
Average amount $5,263
Students taking out private loans 21.0%
Average amount $19,122

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,778
Men 26.6% Women 73.4%
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students 129
Men 37.2% Women 62.8%
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 5.6% N/A
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 919 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Mississippi Connecticut New Hampshire New York Maine N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Architecture
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 9:1 4:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 74.0% 31.8%
Dropout rate 25.7% 68.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $32,786
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,309
  • Year 2: $30,119
  • Year 3: $30,264
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,116
  • Year 2: $28,381
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,494
  • Year 2: $22,420
  • Year 3: $16,882
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $16,008
  • Year 3: N/A