65 Best Art & Design schools in Massachusetts

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in Massachusetts ranked based on their research performance in Art & Design. A graph of 4.67M citations received by 120K academic papers made by 65 universities in Massachusetts was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Harvard University

Cambridge

For Art & Design

#5 in the United States

#6 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 4%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,525

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Art & Design

#6 in the United States

#7 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1550
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $20,996

3. Boston University

Boston

For Art & Design

#49 in the United States

#54 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1475
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $24,420

4. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Art & Design

#54 in the United States

#64 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Average SAT: 1405
Average ACT: 32
Receiving Aid: 89%

5. Boston College

Boston

For Art & Design

#78 in the United States

#91 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,519

6. Tufts University

Medford

For Art & Design

#90 in the United States

#107 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,367

7. Northeastern University

Boston

For Art & Design

#102 in the United States

#124 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1490
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,207

8. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Art & Design

#119 in the United States

#142 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $43,550

9. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Art & Design

#146 in the United States

#170 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1180
Average ACT: 26
Receiving Aid: 92%

10. Williams College

Williamstown

For Art & Design

#178 in the United States

#206 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Average SAT: 1530
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $15,894

11. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Art & Design

#203 in the United States

#233 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Net Price: $47,372
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,545

12. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Art & Design

#206 in the United States

#236 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1275
Average ACT: 29
Receiving Aid: 92%

13. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Art & Design

#217 in the United States

#248 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1510
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $22,174

14. Smith College

Northampton

For Art & Design

#218 in the United States

#249 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1480
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $27,305

15. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Art & Design

#235 in the United States

#266 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,489
Male:Female: 31:69
Founded: 1962

16. Clark University

Worcester

For Art & Design

#246 in the United States

#277 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 40%
Average SAT: 1374
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $33,865

17. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Art & Design

#266 in the United States

#300 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Average SAT: 1325
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $36,014

18. Amherst College

Amherst

For Art & Design

#274 in the United States

#310 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 9%
Average SAT: 1535
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $19,049

19. Hebrew College

Newton Centre

For Art & Design

#289 in the United States

#325 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 163
Male:Female: 41:59
Founded: 1921

20. Suffolk University

Boston

For Art & Design

#299 in the United States

#335 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $33,832

21. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Art & Design

#320 in the United States

#359 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1160
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 99%

22. Bentley University

Waltham

For Art & Design

#336 in the United States

#375 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 45%
Average SAT: 1355
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $45,802

23. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Art & Design

#344 in the United States

#384 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 36%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,526

24. Babson College

Wellesley

For Art & Design

#357 in the United States

#398 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 17%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $32,019

25. Simmons University

Boston

For Art & Design

#375 in the United States

#418 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $28,691

26. Emerson College

Boston

For Art & Design

#430 in the United States

#478 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Average SAT: 1345
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $53,432

27. Lesley University

Cambridge

For Art & Design

#478 in the United States

#528 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $32,587
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $19,167

28. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Art & Design

#527 in the United States

#580 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1162
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 96%

29. Emmanuel College

Boston

For Art & Design

#535 in the United States

#588 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Average SAT: 1255
Net Price: $31,121
Receiving Aid: 100%

30. Fisher College

Boston

For Art & Design

#545 in the United States

#598 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $28,596
Receiving Aid: 94%
Average Aid: $25,379

31. Hampshire College

Amherst

For Art & Design

#558 in the United States

#614 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 75%
Net Price: $27,895
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $46,145

32. Bay State College

Boston

For Art & Design

#591 in the United States

#650 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Net Price: $43,020
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $10,243

33. Salem State University

Salem

For Art & Design

#634 in the United States

#697 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $10,319
Enrollment: 6,230

34. Dean College

Franklin

For Art & Design

#635 in the United States

#698 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $32,085
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,958

35. Framingham State University

Framingham

For Art & Design

#663 in the United States

#727 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 84%
Average SAT: 1190
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $11,338

36. Merrimack College

North Andover

For Art & Design

#676 in the United States

#741 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $38,504
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,550

37. Springfield College

Springfield

For Art & Design

#697 in the United States

#763 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1205
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $30,039

38. Stonehill College

Easton

For Art & Design

#728 in the United States

#794 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Net Price: $33,385
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $39,344

39. Wheaton College - Massachusetts

Norton

For Art & Design

#740 in the United States

#806 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 68%
Average SAT: 1305
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $30,701

40. Western New England University

Springfield

For Art & Design

#760 in the United States

#826 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1195
Average ACT: 25
Net Price: $27,056

41. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Needham

For Art & Design

#780 in the United States

#846 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Average SAT: 1526
Net Price: $43,184
Receiving Aid: 100%

42. Assumption College

Worcester

For Art & Design

#801 in the United States

#868 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Net Price: $29,748
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $35,905

43. Westfield State University

Westfield

For Art & Design

#824 in the United States

#891 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Receiving Aid: 91%
Average Aid: $9,054
Enrollment: 4,588

44. MCPHS University

Boston

For Art & Design

#843 in the United States

#911 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1288
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,506

45. Worcester State University

Worcester

For Art & Design

#845 in the United States

#913 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1155
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $9,464

46. Curry College

Milton

For Art & Design

#874 in the United States

#943 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1140
Net Price: $29,917
Receiving Aid: 100%

47. William James College

Newton

For Art & Design

#924 in the United States

#994 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 967
Male:Female: 19:81
Founded: 1974

48. Gordon College

Wenham

For Art & Design

#947 in the United States

#1017 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Average SAT: 1243
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $25,299

49. Endicott College

Beverly

For Art & Design

#979 in the United States

#1049 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1267
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $41,394

50. MGH Institute of Health Professions

Boston

For Art & Design

#981 in the United States

#1051 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 1,672
Male:Female: 14:86
Founded: 1977

51. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg

For Art & Design

#993 in the United States

#1064 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Average SAT: 1145
Receiving Aid: 97%
Average Aid: $11,539

52. Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston

For Art & Design

#1003 in the United States

#1075 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Average SAT: 1215
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $35,604

53. Berklee College of Music

Boston

For Art & Design

#1031 in the United States

#1105 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Net Price: $49,797
Receiving Aid: 81%
Average Aid: $23,346

54. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

South Hamilton

For Art & Design

#1048 in the United States

#1123 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 1,352
Male:Female: 61:39

55. Newbury College

Brookline

For Art & Design

#1088 in the United States

#1165 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 100%
Net Price: $23,613
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $26,393

56. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

North Adams

For Art & Design

#1094 in the United States

#1171 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,045
Enrollment: 896

57. Regis College

Weston

For Art & Design

#1144 in the United States

#1222 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $28,575
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $37,193

58. New England Conservatory of Music

Boston

For Art & Design

#1145 in the United States

#1223 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 41%
Net Price: $50,367
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $30,707

59. New England Law - Boston

Boston

For Art & Design

#1171 in the United States

#1250 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,131
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1908

60. Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Boston

For Art & Design

#1190 in the United States

#1269 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Receiving Aid: 89%
Average Aid: $10,421
Enrollment: 1,989

61. Bard College at Simon's Rock

Great Barrington

For Art & Design

#1197 in the United States

#1276 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Net Price: $41,013
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $42,635

62. New England College of Optometry

Boston

For Art & Design

#1275 in the United States

#1356 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 515
Male:Female: 25:75
Founded: 1894

63. Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Buzzards Bay

For Art & Design

#1340 in the United States

#1424 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 95%
Average Aid: $16,502
Enrollment: 1,488

64. College of Our Lady of the Elms

Chicopee

For Art & Design

#1355 in the United States

#1439 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Net Price: $19,870
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $33,794

65. Massachusetts School of Law

Andover

For Art & Design

#1365 in the United States

#1449 in North America

Enrollment: 273
Male:Female: 36:64
Founded: 1988

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Art & Design

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Rhode Island	9	65
Connecticut	20	20
New Hampshire	11	84
Vermont	9	147
New York	124	8
New Jersey	25	22
Maine	9	174
Pennsylvania	95	12
Maryland	26	21
District of Columbia	9	56
Virginia	38	36
West Virginia	13	122
Ohio	53	19
North Carolina	39	11
Michigan	34	4
South Carolina	23	75
Indiana	30	27
Kentucky	20	80
Tennessee	30	53
Wisconsin	28	9
Georgia	41	28
Illinois	68	3
Alabama	23	100
Iowa	25	45
Missouri	34	48
Florida	45	34
Minnesota	25	26
Mississippi	10	166
Arkansas	15	116
Louisiana	21	73
Kansas	12	62
South Dakota	8	377
North Dakota	5	227
Nebraska	10	88
Oklahoma	17	95
Puerto Rico	5	423
Texas	68	13
Colorado	19	42
Montana	5	184
New Mexico	7	96
Utah	10	44
Idaho	7	219
Arizona	7	24
Nevada	4	137
Washington	20	7
Oregon	16	86
California	117	1
Alaska	4	233
Hawaii	6	87

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Art & Design

Art & Design subfields in Massachusetts