Best colleges for Fine and Studio Arts in Massachusetts
Ranked by graduate earnings
University of Massachusetts-Lowell, Williams College and Bridgewater State University are the top bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Massachusetts by graduate earnings. University of Massachusetts-Lowell leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,236, College Scorecard. Tufts University, Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Boston University award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Massachusetts: 150, 89 and 70 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 48 Massachusetts colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts and award 924 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The Fine and Studio Arts program focuses on the practice and theory of visual arts and design, encompassing various disciplines such as illustration, painting, sculpture, and graphic design. This program is ideal for students who are…
Top 10 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Massachusetts-Lowell Lowell Public · Bachelor's degree | $36,236 | 23 | 65% | — | $27,000 |
| 2 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $34,560 | 55 | 94% | $10,747 | $11,850 |
| 3 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public · Bachelor's degree | $29,595 | 36 | 53% | — | $27,000 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth North Dartmouth Public · Bachelor's degree | $23,214 | 20 | 52% | — | $27,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston Public · Bachelor's degree | $21,461 | 89 | 69% | — | $26,000 |
| 6 | Smith College Northampton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $20,171 | 26 | 89% | $17,183 | $19,000 |
| 7 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $18,420 | 32 | 84% | $26,083 | $23,447 |
| 8 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public · Bachelor's degree | $18,072 | 63 | 83% | — | $27,000 |
| 9 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,374 | 70 | 89% | $21,956 | $27,000 |
| 10 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $17,154 | 150 | 94% | $23,570 | $25,250 |
Colleges awarding the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Massachusetts
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tufts University Medford Private not-for-profit | 150 | $17,154 |
| 2 | Massachusetts College of Art and Design Boston Public | 89 | $21,461 |
| 3 | Boston University Boston Private not-for-profit | 70 | $17,374 |
| 4 | University of Massachusetts-Amherst Amherst Public | 63 | $18,072 |
| 5 | Williams College Williamstown Private not-for-profit | 55 | $34,560 |
| 6 | Bridgewater State University Bridgewater Public | 36 | $29,595 |
| 7 | Mount Holyoke College South Hadley Private not-for-profit | 32 | $18,420 |
| 8 | Harvard University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 30 | Not reported |
| 9 | Lesley University Cambridge Private not-for-profit | 29 | Not reported |
| 10 | Smith College Northampton Private not-for-profit | 26 | $20,171 |
ShowHide the other 38 Massachusetts colleges offering Fine and Studio Arts
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampshire College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 24 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | Public | 23 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | Public | 20 |
| Amherst College | Amherst | Private not-for-profit | 17 |
| Bristol Community College | Fall River | Public | 17 |
| Clark University | Worcester | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Brandeis University | Waltham | Private not-for-profit | 15 |
| Mount Wachusett Community College | Gardner | Public | 15 |
| Boston College | Chestnut Hill | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| Wheaton College (Massachusetts) | Norton | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | Boston | Public | 13 |
| Suffolk University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 13 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | Public | 13 |
| Bunker Hill Community College | Boston | Public | 12 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | Public | 11 |
| Montserrat College of Art | Beverly | Private not-for-profit | 11 |
| Wellesley College | Wellesley | Private not-for-profit | 10 |
| Salem State University | Salem | Public | 9 |
| Gordon College | Wenham | Private not-for-profit | 8 |
| Northern Essex Community College | Haverhill | Public | 7 |
| Springfield Technical Community College | Springfield | Public | 7 |
| Endicott College | Beverly | Private not-for-profit | 6 |
| Holyoke Community College | Holyoke | Public | 5 |
| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | North Adams | Public | 5 |
| Berkshire Community College | Pittsfield | Public | 4 |
| Massasoit Community College | Brockton | Public | 4 |
| Middlesex Community College | Bedford | Public | 4 |
| Simmons University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Curry College | Milton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Emmanuel College | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Greenfield Community College | Greenfield | Public | 3 |
| Springfield College | Springfield | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Stonehill College | Easton | Private not-for-profit | 3 |
| Northeastern University | Boston | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| Quincy College | Quincy | Public | 2 |
| Worcester State University | Worcester | Public | 2 |
| Merrimack College | North Andover | Private not-for-profit | 1 |
| Roxbury Community College | Roxbury Crossing | Public | 1 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators (SOC 27-1013).
Top skills
What Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators earn in Massachusetts
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing Fine and Studio Arts programs in Massachusetts.
Which Massachusetts colleges award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees?+
Tufts University (150 graduates a year), Massachusetts College of Art and Design (89 graduates a year) and Boston University (70 graduates a year) award the most Fine and Studio Arts degrees in Massachusetts, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 48 Massachusetts colleges offer Fine and Studio Arts.
What is the best college for Fine and Studio Arts in Massachusetts?+
By graduate earnings, University of Massachusetts-Lowell leads among bachelor's Fine and Studio Arts programs in Massachusetts, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $36,236, College Scorecard. Williams College and Bridgewater State University follow. By degrees awarded, Tufts University is the largest, with 150 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which Fine and Studio Arts program in Massachusetts has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, University of Massachusetts-Lowell tops the list at $36,236. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the Fine and Studio Arts program?+
The Fine and Studio Arts program focuses on the practice and theory of visual arts and design, encompassing various disciplines such as illustration, painting, sculpture, and graphic design. This program is ideal for students who are…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop critical thinking, active learning, active listening, speaking, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators?+
The national job outlook is about -1.2% growth with around 2,200 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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