In a continuing series of articles on Top 10 Undergrad Art Schools, Jeremy Thompson of the Massachusetts College of Art and Design responded to our email interview.
MassArt is an ideal art college in that it is in the heart of the vibrant city of Boston. This undergraduate art program strives to teach the business side of fine arts, a much needed asset in the career of any artist.
Can you briefly describe the flavor and feel of your campus?
Massachusetts College of Art and Design is an urban campus with nearly one million square feet of studio, classroom, workshop, and exhibition space packed into one square block in downtown Boston.
How many students do you have?
- 1,690 undergraduate students
- 149 graduate students
- 93 certificate students
What is your largest major?
Illustration. Other popular majors include graphic design, painting, fashion design, and sculpture.
Can you briefly describe your financial aid?
Since its founding in 1873, MassArt has made a firm commitment to providing an art education of the highest quality to all students with the talent and determination to succeed, regardless of financial means. Currently more than 1,100 students receive some sort of financial assistance totaling more than $15 million, and about 45% receive grant and scholarship aid totaling $4 million. The typical financial aid package for a first-year student—usually a combination of grants, low-interest loans, and part-time employment—is more than $10,000. Financial aid is determined by a combination of factors, including need, merit, and residency status.
Can you provide the number of scholarship programs?
There are eight scholarship programs, including those that provide the full cost of tuition and fees for four years. Multiple students receive scholarships from each program annually.
What percentage of your student body has some kind of financial aid?
79%
Of that percentage receiving financial aid, what is the average percentage of their tuition being covered?
The average financial aid package for all undergraduate students is $8,917. With tuition and fees ranging from $8,400 for Massachusetts residents, $14,900 for New England residents, and $24,400 for all others, it is difficult to calculate an average percentage of tuition covered by financial aid.
Besides learning the nuts and bolts of creating art, how do you prepare your students business-wise for a career in the arts??
We don’t teach art, we train people to be artists. The skills necessary to build a successful career are as important to our students’ education as those they hone in the studio. Areas of study have courses that present profession-based information about life skills needed in each field. For instance, all students studying three-dimensional fine arts take a required senior seminar in which they are given information on public art contracts, working with galleries, and more, while graphic designers prepare a professional portfolio of media and print which is reviewed by potential clients. In all cases alumni are essential advisors and participants.
MassArt brings the real world into the classroom with visiting artists and exhibitions of the highest caliber, and we bring students into the real world with internships and projects for Fortune 500 companies. Students who graduate from MassArt are not only skilled artists and designers, they are creative thinkers who are prepared to meet the future with confidence.
How is your college involved in the community in which it is located?
MassArt has a long history of working with the community. It’s a core part of who we are, so much so that the Carnegie Foundation has recognized us for community engagement. In 2004 we established the Center for Art and Community Partnerships to build connections with neighborhood groups, schools, and local non-profits, providing opportunities for students to make a real difference in the community.
For students who live on campus, what features are there in the community for them to engage in?
Students have dozens of opportunities to engage with the community, regardless of whether or not they live on campus. In addition to options available through the Center for Art and Community Partnerships, the student development office promotes volunteer opportunities, student groups build connections in the neighborhood, and academic departments incorporate community projects into the curriculum. Students have worked with local hospitals, after-school programs, community arts organizations, and more.
What is unique about your college that makes it the best choice for attending?
MassArt is located in the heart of downtown Boston, a city that combines the best qualities of an international metropolis with those of a quaint New England town. The college is located on the Avenue of the Arts alongside world-renowned institutions like the Museum of Fine Arts, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Boston also ranks as the #1 place to go to college among major U.S. cities, with some 60 colleges and more than 250,000 students in the area. MassArt makes the most of its location in America’s College Town by working closely with neighboring colleges. As a member of the Colleges of the Fenway (COF), a consortium of six nearby colleges with a total student population of 11,400, MassArt offers many benefits of a large campus, with intramural athletic programs, performing arts, and cross-registration. MassArt also provides cross-registration through the ProArts consortium, a group of six visual and performing arts colleges in the city.
Mary Rayme - Mary Rayme is a graphic designer and arts educator with a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore.
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