College Factual  by our College Data Analytics Team
       Unbiased Factual Guarantee

2023 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in Massachusetts

35 Ranked Colleges
946 Degrees Awarded
$38,500 Avg Cost*
Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts

When it comes to choosing a college, students have a lot of options - but not all of them are good. College Factual has developed its “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts” ranking as one item you can use to help make this decision.

Design & Applied Arts is the 36th most popular major in the country with 36,301 degrees awarded in 2020-2021. In 2019-2020, design and applied arts graduates who were awarded their degree in 2017-2019, earned an average of $31,426 and had an average of $25,481 in loans still to pay off.

Across Massachusetts, there were 946 design and applied arts graduates with average earnings and debt of $34,757 and $26,491 respectively.

This year’s “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts” ranking analyzed 35 colleges that offered a degree in design and applied arts. That schools that top this list have a program in design and applied arts in which the largest percentage of students at the school are enrolled.

Check out our ranking methodology for more information.

More Ways to Rank Design & Applied Arts Schools

Rankings by Degree Other Award Levels
Rankings by Location Check Out Other Locales
More Design Rankings Other Ranking Categories

The design school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts”.

You can create your own custom comparison that focuses on the factors most important to you using our tool, College Combat. Test it out when you get a chance! You may also want to bookmark the link and share it with others who are trying to make the college decision.

Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts

The colleges and universities below are the best for massachusetts design students.

Top 25 Most Focused Colleges for Design & Applied Arts in Massachusetts

1

Out of the 35 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Massachusetts College of Art and Design landed the #1 spot on the list. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public institution located in Boston, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 214 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Full Massachusetts College of Art and Design Design & Applied Arts Report

2
Montserrat College of Art crest
Montserrat College of Art
Beverly, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Montserrat College of Art. The school came in at #2 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts. Beverly, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 17 students in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Montserrat College of Art

3
WIT crest
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Boston, Massachusetts

Out of the 35 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Wentworth Institute of Technology landed the #3 spot on the list. Wentworth Institute of Technology is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 62 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 2.5%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at WIT

4
Lesley crest
Lesley University
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Out of the 35 schools in the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts that were part of this year’s ranking, Lesley University landed the #4 spot on the list. Lesley is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts and, has a small student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 74 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.2%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Since the school has a undergrad student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, those pursuing a degree will have more opportunities to interact with their professors.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Lesley University

5
Hampshire crest
Hampshire College
Amherst, Massachusetts

You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Hampshire College. The school came in at #5 for the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts. Hampshire College is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Amherst, Massachusetts. It awarded 9 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Hampshire College

6
Endicott crest
Endicott College
Beverly, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #6, Endicott College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts list. Beverly, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 48 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 2.8% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Endicott

7
UMass Dartmouth crest
University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #7. North Dartmouth, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 59 students in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth

8
Lasell crest
Lasell University
Newton, Massachusetts

Lasell University did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #8. Lasell University is a private not-for-profit institution located in Newton, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 17 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Lasell University Design & Applied Arts Report

9
Stonehill crest
Stonehill College
Easton, Massachusetts

Stonehill College landed the #9 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. Located in Easton, Massachusetts, this small private not-for-profit school handed out 15 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The school has an impressive undergrad student loan default rate. It’s only 1.4%, which is much lower than the national rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 86%.

Full Stonehill Design & Applied Arts Report

10
Suffolk crest
Suffolk University
Boston, Massachusetts

Suffolk University came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. Suffolk is a medium-sized private not-for-profit school situated in Boston, Massachusetts. It awarded 43 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.3%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Suffolk University Design & Applied Arts Report

11
Fitchburg State crest
Fitchburg State University
Fitchburg, Massachusetts

Fitchburg State University ranked #11 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts list. Located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, this medium-sized public school handed out 35 diplomas to qualified ’s design students in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.8%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Fitchburg State University

12
Emmanuel Boston crest
Emmanuel College Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts

Emmanuel College Massachusetts came in at #12 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. Emmanuel Boston is a small school located in Boston, Massachusetts that handed out 10 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 4.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Emmanuel Boston

13
Massasoit Community College crest
Massasoit Community College
Brockton, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #13, Massasoit Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts list. Massasoit Community College is a public institution located in Brockton, Massachusetts. The school has a medium-sized population, and it awarded 14 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Massasoit Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

14
North Shore Community College crest
North Shore Community College
Danvers, Massachusetts

North Shore Community College came in at #14 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. North Shore Community College is a public institution located in Danvers, Massachusetts. The school has a small population, and it awarded 16 ’s degrees in 2020-2021.

Full North Shore Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

15
BHCC crest
Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, Massachusetts

Bunker Hill Community College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #15. This medium-sized school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 23 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at BHCC

16
Middlesex Community College crest
Middlesex Community College
Bedford, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #16, Middlesex Community College did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts list. Bedford, Massachusetts is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out ’s design degrees to 30 students in 2020-2021.

Full Middlesex Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

17
STCC crest
Springfield Technical Community College
Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield Technical Community College landed the #17 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. Springfield Technical Community College is a small school located in Springfield, Massachusetts that handed out 15 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at STCC

18
Assumption crest
Assumption University
Worcester, Massachusetts

Assumption University landed the #18 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. Worcester, Massachusetts is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out ’s design degrees to 9 students in 2020-2021.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 4.4% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Assumption

19
Northeastern crest
Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts

With a ranking of #19, Northeastern University did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts list. Northeastern University is located in Boston, Massachusetts and, has a large student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 75 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The low undergrad student loan default rate of 1.5% is a good sign that students have an easier time paying off their loans than they might at other schools. For comparison, the national default rate is 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Northeastern

20
Anna Maria crest
Anna Maria College
Paxton, Massachusetts

Anna Maria College came in at #20 in this year’s edition of the Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. Anna Maria is a small private not-for-profit school situated in Paxton, Massachusetts. It awarded 4 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Anna Maria

21

With a ranking of #21, University of Massachusetts - Lowell did quite well on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts list. This fairly large school is located in Lowell, Massachusetts, and it awarded 44 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 3.5%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at UMass Lowell

22
WPI crest
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #22. Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, Massachusetts and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2020-2021, this school awarded 13 ’s design degrees to qualified students.

The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.1%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%. Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 95%.

Read full report on Design & Applied Arts at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

23
Quinsigamond Community College crest
Quinsigamond Community College
Worcester, Massachusetts

Quinsigamond Community College landed the #23 spot on the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking. Quinsigamond Community College is a medium-sized public school situated in Worcester, Massachusetts. It awarded 7 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Full Quinsigamond Community College Design & Applied Arts Report

24
Boston U crest
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts

Boston University ranked #24 on this year’s Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts list. This large school is located in Boston, Massachusetts, and it awarded 51 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

With a freshman retention rate of 92%, the school does an excellent job of retaining its undergraduate students. The impressive undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio of 10 to 1 means that students may have more opportunities to work more closely with their professors than they would at other schools. The undergrad student loan default rate at the school is 1.4%, which is quite low when compared to the national default rate of 10.1%.

Full Boston University Design & Applied Arts Report

25
Springfield College crest
Springfield College
Springfield, Massachusetts

Springfield College did quite well in the 2023 Schools Highly Focused on Design Major in Massachusetts ranking, coming in at #25. This small school is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, and it awarded 4 ’s design degrees in 2020-2021.

Students who start out at the school are likely to stick around. The freshman retention rate is 85%.

Read more about Design & Applied Arts at Springfield College

Switch to a Different Ranking Method

Notes and References

References

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

Popular Reports

College Rankings
Best by Location
Degree Guides by Major
Graduate Programs

Compare Your School Options