65 Best Art & Design schools in Massachusetts

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 4.46M citations received by 118K 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: 3%
Average SAT: 1540
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $17,900

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

For Art & Design

#6 in the United States

#7 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 5%
Average SAT: 1545
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $21,519

3. Boston University

Boston

For Art & Design

#49 in the United States

#54 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,551

4. University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Amherst

For Art & Design

#54 in the United States

#64 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Average SAT: 1390
Average ACT: 31
Receiving Aid: 87%

5. Boston College

Boston

For Art & Design

#77 in the United States

#90 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 16%
Average SAT: 1485
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $32,590

6. Tufts University

Medford

For Art & Design

#90 in the United States

#107 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $33,333

7. Northeastern University

Boston

For Art & Design

#102 in the United States

#124 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 6%
Average SAT: 1505
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $34,770

8. Brandeis University

Waltham

For Art & Design

#119 in the United States

#142 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 35%
Average SAT: 1460
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $44,668

9. University of Massachusetts - Boston

Boston

For Art & Design

#148 in the United States

#172 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 27
Receiving Aid: 92%

10. Williams College

Williamstown

For Art & Design

#174 in the United States

#201 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1515
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $16,988

11. Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester

For Art & Design

#203 in the United States

#233 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 58%
Net Price: $47,799
Receiving Aid: 96%
Average Aid: $28,005

12. University of Massachusetts - Lowell

Lowell

For Art & Design

#207 in the United States

#237 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1265
Average ACT: 28
Receiving Aid: 91%

13. Smith College

Northampton

For Art & Design

#216 in the United States

#246 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1474
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $27,823

14. Wellesley College

Wellesley

For Art & Design

#217 in the United States

#247 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 14%
Average SAT: 1495
Average ACT: 34
Net Price: $21,501

15. University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester

Worcester

For Art & Design

#235 in the United States

#266 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 12%
Enrollment: 1,394
Male:Female: 33:67
Founded: 1962

16. Clark University

Worcester

For Art & Design

#245 in the United States

#276 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 42%
Average SAT: 1320
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $32,767

17. College of the Holy Cross

Worcester

For Art & Design

#267 in the United States

#301 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Average SAT: 1335
Average ACT: 30
Net Price: $35,455

18. Amherst College

Amherst

For Art & Design

#274 in the United States

#310 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 10%
Average SAT: 1455
Average ACT: 33
Net Price: $17,965

19. Hebrew College

Newton Centre

For Art & Design

#285 in the United States

#321 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 80%
Enrollment: 177
Male:Female: 45:55
Founded: 1921

20. Suffolk University

Boston

For Art & Design

#297 in the United States

#333 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1185
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $33,089

21. University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

Dartmouth

For Art & Design

#319 in the United States

#358 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1150
Average ACT: 25
Receiving Aid: 99%

22. Bentley University

Waltham

For Art & Design

#334 in the United States

#373 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 48%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $43,858

23. Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley

For Art & Design

#340 in the United States

#380 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 38%
Average SAT: 1425
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $35,782

24. Babson College

Wellesley

For Art & Design

#359 in the United States

#400 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Average SAT: 1440
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $30,220

25. Simmons University

Boston

For Art & Design

#392 in the United States

#438 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 66%
Average SAT: 1310
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $29,575

26. Emerson College

Boston

For Art & Design

#434 in the United States

#483 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 47%
Average SAT: 1330
Average ACT: 32
Net Price: $50,703

27. Lesley University

Cambridge

For Art & Design

#479 in the United States

#528 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 94%
Net Price: $33,111
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $16,476

28. Emmanuel College

Boston

For Art & Design

#530 in the United States

#583 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $33,214

29. Bridgewater State University

Bridgewater

For Art & Design

#532 in the United States

#585 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Average SAT: 1135
Average ACT: 23
Receiving Aid: 94%

30. Fisher College

Boston

For Art & Design

#548 in the United States

#601 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Net Price: $27,827
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $24,917

31. Hampshire College

Amherst

For Art & Design

#559 in the United States

#614 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Net Price: $27,556
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $43,944

32. Bay State College

Boston

For Art & Design

#594 in the United States

#653 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

#633 in the United States

#694 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Average SAT: 1075
Receiving Aid: 99%
Average Aid: $8,241

34. Dean College

Franklin

For Art & Design

#636 in the United States

#697 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $31,472
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $31,467

35. Framingham State University

Framingham

For Art & Design

#670 in the United States

#734 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1163
Receiving Aid: 92%
Average Aid: $9,184

36. Merrimack College

North Andover

For Art & Design

#678 in the United States

#743 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Net Price: $38,849
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $29,235

37. Springfield College

Springfield

For Art & Design

#699 in the United States

#765 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Average SAT: 1165
Net Price: $29,198
Receiving Aid: 100%

38. Stonehill College

Easton

For Art & Design

#727 in the United States

#793 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Net Price: $31,134
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $37,353

39. Wheaton College - Massachusetts

Norton

For Art & Design

#733 in the United States

#799 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 71%
Average SAT: 1315
Average ACT: 31
Net Price: $31,638

40. Western New England University

Springfield

For Art & Design

#761 in the United States

#827 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Average SAT: 1220
Average ACT: 26
Net Price: $31,548

41. Franklin W Olin College of Engineering

Needham

For Art & Design

#792 in the United States

#858 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Average SAT: 1520
Average ACT: 35
Net Price: $40,370

42. Assumption College

Worcester

For Art & Design

#800 in the United States

#867 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 87%
Net Price: $29,072
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $32,759

43. Westfield State University

Westfield

For Art & Design

#818 in the United States

#885 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 81%
Receiving Aid: 90%
Average Aid: $8,406
Enrollment: 4,555

44. Worcester State University

Worcester

For Art & Design

#845 in the United States

#914 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1144
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $7,332

45. MCPHS University

Boston

For Art & Design

#864 in the United States

#933 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1210
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $37,182

46. Curry College

Milton

For Art & Design

#881 in the United States

#950 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Average SAT: 1130
Net Price: $30,367
Receiving Aid: 100%

47. William James College

Newton

For Art & Design

#927 in the United States

#997 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 951
Male:Female: 19:81
Founded: 1974

48. Gordon College

Wenham

For Art & Design

#949 in the United States

#1019 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Average SAT: 1269
Average ACT: 29
Net Price: $25,250

49. Endicott College

Beverly

For Art & Design

#986 in the United States

#1056 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Average SAT: 1250
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $39,988

50. MGH Institute of Health Professions

Boston

For Art & Design

#992 in the United States

#1062 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 32%
Enrollment: 1,484
Male:Female: 16:84
Founded: 1977

51. Fitchburg State University

Fitchburg

For Art & Design

#1006 in the United States

#1078 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 90%
Average SAT: 1125
Average ACT: 22
Receiving Aid: 94%

52. Wentworth Institute of Technology

Boston

For Art & Design

#1009 in the United States

#1081 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 85%
Average SAT: 1230
Average ACT: 28
Net Price: $35,585

53. Berklee College of Music

Boston

For Art & Design

#1032 in the United States

#1106 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 50%
Net Price: $48,608
Receiving Aid: 78%
Average Aid: $21,587

54. Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary

South Hamilton

For Art & Design

#1041 in the United States

#1115 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Enrollment: 1,373
Male:Female: 62:38

55. Newbury College

Brookline

For Art & Design

#1081 in the United States

#1157 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

#1097 in the United States

#1174 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $9,606
Enrollment: 933

57. Regis College

Weston

For Art & Design

#1130 in the United States

#1208 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Net Price: $30,212
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $34,144

58. New England Conservatory of Music

Boston

For Art & Design

#1152 in the United States

#1230 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 43%
Net Price: $49,544
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $28,326

59. New England Law - Boston

Boston

For Art & Design

#1162 in the United States

#1240 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Enrollment: 1,083
Male:Female: 34:66
Founded: 1908

60. Bard College at Simon's Rock

Great Barrington

For Art & Design

#1180 in the United States

#1259 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 97%
Net Price: $45,395
Receiving Aid: 100%
Average Aid: $37,292

61. Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Boston

For Art & Design

#1187 in the United States

#1266 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Receiving Aid: 88%
Average Aid: $11,065
Enrollment: 1,986

62. New England College of Optometry

Boston

For Art & Design

#1271 in the United States

#1352 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 23%
Enrollment: 529
Male:Female: 24:76
Founded: 1894

63. College of Our Lady of the Elms

Chicopee

For Art & Design

#1343 in the United States

#1426 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 88%
Average SAT: 1235
Net Price: $22,311
Receiving Aid: 100%

64. Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Buzzards Bay

For Art & Design

#1348 in the United States

#1431 in North America

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Receiving Aid: 98%
Average Aid: $16,962
Enrollment: 1,362

65. Massachusetts School of Law

Andover

For Art & Design

#1356 in the United States

#1439 in North America

Enrollment: 284
Male:Female: 38:62
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	145
New York	124	7
New Jersey	25	22
Maine	9	173
Pennsylvania	95	12
Maryland	25	21
District of Columbia	9	56
Virginia	38	36
West Virginia	13	125
Ohio	52	19
North Carolina	39	11
Michigan	33	4
South Carolina	23	75
Indiana	30	27
Kentucky	20	80
Tennessee	30	53
Wisconsin	28	9
Georgia	40	28
Illinois	68	3
Alabama	22	101
Iowa	25	45
Missouri	34	48
Florida	44	34
Minnesota	25	24
Mississippi	10	166
Arkansas	15	116
Louisiana	20	72
Kansas	12	62
South Dakota	8	377
North Dakota	5	231
Nebraska	10	88
Oklahoma	17	95
Puerto Rico	5	420
Texas	68	13
Colorado	19	42
Montana	5	182
New Mexico	7	96
Utah	10	44
Idaho	7	219
Arizona	7	25
Nevada	4	137
Washington	20	8
Oregon	16	86
California	116	1
Alaska	4	232
Hawaii	6	89

Closest to Massachusetts states to learn Art & Design

Art & Design subfields in Massachusetts