Massachusetts College of Art and Design Scholarships (2026–2027)
← Back to college scholarships hub • See Massachusetts aid & Grants
Last Updated on November 2, 2026- Tuition, housing, and average family net price
- Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
- Flagship and hidden-gem awards
- Honors and stacking strategy
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~76%
- Middle 50% ACT: Not used (test-blind)
- Middle 50% SAT: Not used (test-blind)
- Average GPA: Not published
MassArt is the country’s first independent public college of art and design, founded in Boston in 1873, and it works differently from almost every school on your list. Admission and merit money ride on your student’s portfolio and grades, not test scores. MassArt is test-blind, so SAT and ACT scores aren’t used for admission or for its own merit scholarships. About three out of four applicants get in, but MassArt says the portfolio score your student earns at admission shapes the aid that comes with the acceptance. That makes the 12 to 15 pieces they upload the most important financial document in the whole application.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
📌 Massachusetts College of Art and Design at a Glance
- Tuition is tiny. Fees are not. In-state tuition is $1,460, but mandatory fees are $14,800. Any award that only covers “tuition,” like the state’s Adams Scholarship, is worth about $1,460 a year here.
- February 15 is the real scholarship date. Applications in by the Feb 15 priority deadline get first consideration for scholarships and housing. Merit review of admitted students starts March 1.
- Merit amounts aren’t published. You won’t see a number until it shows up in the Applicant Portal, so run MassArt’s Net Price Calculator early.
- File the FAFSA even if you think of this as “merit.” The full-tuition Trustees Scholarship requires financial need, and MassArt Start needs the FAFSA in by March 1.
- Early Action is one shot. If your student isn’t accepted under Early Action (Dec 1), they aren’t reconsidered in the regular round and have to wait a year to reapply.
- New York families, pay attention. Starting Fall 2026, new students from New York pay MassArt’s New England tuition rate, which is $9,180 a year less than the out-of-state rate.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is test-optional for admission, but scholarships can work differently (see the next question).
Do you need test scores for scholarships at Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Test-blind: MassArt doesn't use SAT or ACT scores for admission or for its own merit scholarships. The state-funded Tsongas Scholarship lists a 1200 SAT, but MassArt accepts two B+ or better AP or honors grades instead.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: Not used (test-blind); SAT: Not used (test-blind).
Average net price? About $24,864/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? Yes. Institutional waivers are available.
MassArt Financial Aid for Undergraduates: https://massart.edu/costs-aid/for-undergraduates/types-of-aid/
CRP Massachusetts State Aid Guide: https://collegereadyparent.org/massachusetts/
MassArt Awards & Fellowships: https://massart.edu/awards-fellowships/
MassArt Start: https://massart.edu/massart-start/
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/
💰 Cost of Attendance at Massachusetts College of Art and Design: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in November 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Massachusetts College of Art and Design has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $700 to $1,800 more than the in-state total below. $1,300 to $3,200 more than the out-of-state total below.
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $16,260 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $19,140 |
| Total billed cost | $35,400 |
| Tuition & mandatory fees | $45,820 |
| Housing & meals (typical) | $19,140 |
| Total billed cost | $64,960 |
That is $29,560 more per year than Massachusetts residents pay, before any waivers or scholarships.
Average federal net price: $24,864 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
Out-of-state families: this average does not include you. Run the college's own net price calculator for a number based on your situation.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
The table above shows in-state and out-of-state. There’s a middle tier too. For 2026-2027, tuition and fees are $16,260 for Massachusetts residents, $36,640 for students from the other New England states and (new this year) New York, and $45,820 for everyone else. On-campus housing and food averages $19,140 for all three.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at MassArt
Why is in-state tuition only $1,460 when the bill is over $16,000?
Massachusetts state universities keep the “tuition” line low and put most of the charges into mandatory fees. At MassArt the fees are $14,800, and every student pays them no matter where they live. When you compare offers, always look at tuition plus fees together.
How much does the New England and New York rate actually save?
Tuition drops from $31,020 to $21,840, which is $9,180 a year and roughly $36,700 over four years. It’s MassArt’s own rate, so it covers every BFA major, not just a short list. New York residents qualify starting with new undergraduates in Fall 2026.
Can MassArt really be tuition-free for Massachusetts families?
For many, yes. MassArt Start covers in-state tuition and standard fees ($16,260 this year) for Massachusetts families with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less who file the FAFSA by March 1. It does not cover the $19,140 for housing and food, so plan for that piece.
What about art supplies?
MassArt’s budget includes $2,000 a year for books, course materials, supplies and equipment, which you pay on your own. Your bill can also include a $400 yearly capital fee and required health insurance for students taking 9 or more credits, unless you waive it with your own coverage.
Is living off campus cheaper in Boston?
MassArt’s own estimate for off-campus housing and food is $17,386, only a little below the $19,140 on-campus average. Students living at home are budgeted $5,216 for food and housing plus $3,542 for transportation.
What do families actually pay?
The federal average net price was $24,864 for in-state first-year students who got grant aid (2023-24). By income it ran from about $16,351 for families under $30,000 to about $31,882 for families over $110,000. MassArt Start launched after that data, so lower-income Massachusetts families may now pay less.
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/for-undergraduates/
https://massart.edu/massart-start/
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=166674
📅 MassArt Scholarship Timeline (Simple Version)
- February 15: Priority application deadline. Applications in by now get first consideration for scholarships and housing.
- March 1: FAFSA priority deadline (MassArt Start, Trustees, MassArt Grant). Merit review of admitted students begins the same day.
- Mid-April: Financial aid packages go out to new students who sent in any requested documents.
- May 1: State FAFSA deadline for MASSGrant.
Parent rule of thumb: get the application, portfolio and FAFSA in by mid-February. That one move protects every dollar on this page.
Automatic Merit Scholarships at MassArt
Note: Merit awards renew for up to eight semesters (nine for Art Education majors), but MassArt rechecks them every term. A student on Academic Probation loses the award, and a student taking six credits or fewer gets half the semester amount.
Automatic Merit FAQs (MassArt)
How much are the President’s, Dean’s and Provost’s Scholarships?
MassArt doesn’t publish amounts. Your student finds out in the Applicant Portal after merit review starts March 1. The Net Price Calculator is the best early estimate, and MassArt warns that the portfolio score at admission affects the result.
Do test scores help?
No. MassArt is test-blind and says scores won’t be used for merit. The only place a score can matter is the state’s Tsongas Scholarship, and MassArt offers a path around that too (see below).
Which award does a New York student get?
New York students now pay the New England tuition rate, but MassArt’s scholarship page still describes the Dean’s award as New England and the Provost’s as outside New England. Ask admissions which pool New York applicants land in.
What is MassArt Start, and is it really automatic?
It’s MassArt’s promise that Massachusetts families with an AGI of $75,000 or less pay no tuition or standard fees. It’s automatic once the FAFSA is filed by March 1 (April 1 for fall transfers). It’s built mostly from Pell and the state’s MASSGrant Plus, with MassArt filling the gap.
What’s the Tsongas Scholarship, and why is it in this section?
It’s a state-funded waiver of tuition and fees ($16,260 at MassArt this year) for five Massachusetts first-years a year, so it shows with state aid here. Students need a 3.75 GPA or top 10% class rank, plus either a 1200 SAT or two B+ or better grades in AP or honors courses, and an exemplary portfolio. No separate application.
My student earned the Adams Scholarship. What’s it worth at MassArt?
Adams covers tuition only, and MassArt’s tuition is $1,460. So it’s worth about $1,460 a year, not the full bill. It still helps, but don’t count on it the way you might at a school with higher tuition.
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/for-undergraduates/types-of-aid/
https://massart.edu/massart-start/
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/how-financial-aid-works/important-deadlines/
https://www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/tsongas.asp
https://www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/adams.asp
🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at MassArt?
| Aid Type | Stacks? | MassArt Parent Translation |
|---|---|---|
| President’s / Dean’s / Provost’s | One per student | They’re split by residency, so your student lands in one of the three. |
| Trustees Scholarship | Ask | It already covers all tuition and fees. Ask how any other award would apply to housing or other costs. |
| Tuition waivers (Tsongas, Adams, Koplik, Valedictorian) | Partly | MassArt may trim other grants so the total doesn’t go past tuition and standard fees. |
| Pell, MASSGrant, MassArt Grant | Usually | Need-based money fills the gap after merit. Filing the FAFSA by March 1 matters. |
| Outside scholarships | Usually | MassArt says it tries to protect grant aid and trims loans or work-study first. Report every outside award. |
You won’t find interview weekends or long essay competitions here. Everything runs off the admission file you already sent: grades, the personal essay, the recommendation, and above all the portfolio. That’s why the strongest move for a scholarship-minded family is a finished portfolio and a filed FAFSA before Feb 15.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How does a student apply for the Trustees Scholarship?
They don’t, at least not separately. The committee chooses up to six recipients from admitted applicants. Apply by Feb 15 and file the FAFSA by March 1, because demonstrated financial need is required.
Can out-of-state students win Trustees?
Yes. MassArt calls it the highest award for out-of-state applicants, and it’s open to New England students too. It’s limited to U.S. citizens and eligible permanent residents. For an out-of-state student it’s worth $45,820 a year in tuition and fees.
Does Trustees cover housing?
No. It covers all tuition and fee charges. Housing and food ($19,140 on average) still need a plan.
What does it take to get the Tsongas Scholarship?
It’s for Massachusetts first-years only, five per year. Students need a 3.75 GPA or top 10% class rank, plus a 1200 SAT or two B+ or better AP or honors grades, and an exemplary portfolio. Need gets preference, and it renews with a 3.3 college GPA.
Is MassArt a National Merit, QuestBridge or Stamps school?
MassArt doesn’t list any of those partnerships on its undergraduate aid pages.
How can my student stand out?
The portfolio is the scholarship application. Strong work and a personal essay that shows who your student is both count. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder help with the written parts.
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/for-undergraduates/types-of-aid/
https://massart.edu/massart-start/
https://www.mass.edu/osfa/programs/tsongas.asp
Honors at MassArt: What Exists and What Doesn’t
Straight answer: MassArt does not have an honors college or an honors program you apply to. When you see “Academic Honors” or “Departmental Honors” at MassArt, those are distinctions given to graduating seniors, not a track with its own scholarships.
That doesn’t mean high achievers go unrewarded. At an art school, the “honors” money lives in the portfolio-driven awards instead.
- Trustees Scholarship: all tuition and fees, up to six students a year, need required.
- Tsongas Scholarship: all tuition and fees for five Massachusetts first-years a year.
- President’s, Dean’s and Provost’s Scholarships: automatic review for every admitted student.
Honors Scholarships
This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.
No honors-specific scholarships are listed for MassArt right now. If MassArt adds one, it will show up here automatically.
- ProArts Consortium: cross-register at Berklee, Emerson, the Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory, Boston Architectural College, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts.
- Colleges of the Fenway: courses, libraries and minors shared with Emmanuel, Simmons, Wentworth and MCPHS.
- Senior project awards: the Aronowitz Award and the travel fellowships reward ambitious upper-level work.
Honors FAQs (MassArt)
Does MassArt have an honors college?
No. There’s no separate honors application or honors housing. Academic and Departmental Honors are recognitions given at graduation.
Where does a top student’s scholarship money come from?
From the Trustees and Tsongas full tuition-and-fees awards and the residency-based merit awards, all decided from the admission file and portfolio.
Can my student take harder or broader classes?
Yes. Full-time students can cross-register through the ProArts Consortium and Colleges of the Fenway, which opens up music, writing, performance and design courses across Boston.
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/for-undergraduates/types-of-aid/
https://massart.edu/academics/colleges-of-the-fenway-and-proarts/
⭐ College Specialty
MassArt is a public art school, which is rare. Your student gets an art-and-design-only education with 18 BFA majors and a 9 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, at a public-college price. Every first-year starts with the Studio Foundation year, a year of core drawing, 2D and 3D work, before choosing a major. That’s a big plus for a student who loves art but hasn’t picked a lane yet.
Fashion Design: MassArt’s Fashion Design program dates to 1907, making it one of the oldest fashion programs in the country. Students work toward a juried senior runway show that the college turns into a public event each spring.
- Illustration: MassArt’s biggest BFA by graduates, with 72 Illustration degrees in 2023-24.
- Film/Video and Animation: separate BFA majors with their own studios, a strong draw for students headed into media.
- Communication Design and Industrial Design: the most career-direct majors, with clear paths into branding, UX and product design.
- Architecture: a BFA in Architecture plus a graduate M.Arch path on the same campus.
- Art Education: leads to teacher licensure. It takes a ninth semester, and MassArt lets merit scholarships cover it.
- Fine Arts studios: Painting, Printmaking, Sculpture, Ceramics, Glass, Fibers, and Jewelry and Metalsmithing, plus the experimental Studio for Interrelated Media (SIM).
🔗 Official MassArt Links
Use MassArt’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship terms, costs and program details. Always treat these pages as the final word.
-
First-Year Admissions: How to Apply:
https://massart.edu/admissions/first-time-undergraduates/how-to-apply/ -
Undergraduate Tuition, Costs & Aid:
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/for-undergraduates/ -
Scholarships & Financial Aid for Undergraduates:
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/for-undergraduates/types-of-aid/ -
MassArt Start:
https://massart.edu/massart-start/ -
Financial Aid Deadlines:
https://massart.edu/costs-aid/how-financial-aid-works/important-deadlines/ -
Awards & Fellowships (current students):
https://massart.edu/awards-fellowships/ -
Net Price Calculator:
https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/massart -
Undergraduate Programs:
https://massart.edu/undergraduate-programs/ -
Institutional Data (MassArt does not publish a Common Data Set):
https://massart.edu/about/institutional-effectiveness/institutional-data/
✅ Wrapping It Up
Here’s MassArt in one breath: it’s a serious art school at a public-college price, and the money follows the portfolio. Test scores don’t matter, merit amounts aren’t published, and the big wins (Trustees, Tsongas, MassArt Start) all depend on two things families control: a finished portfolio by February 15 and a FAFSA by March 1. For Massachusetts families under $75,000, MassArt Start can wipe out tuition and fees entirely. For New England and New York families, the regional rate takes more than $9,000 a year off the top before any scholarship. And once your student is in a major, the travel fellowships, project awards and faculty nominations keep money coming in years two through four. Just remember that in-state “tuition” is only a sliver of the bill, so judge every award by what it does to tuition plus fees.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it. After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Leo Dimilo
Leo went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built CollegeReadyParent to help middle-income and first-generation families see what college really costs. No paywall, no lead generation. More about Leo →