CMA vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, CA with Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than CMA based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 837 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California State University Maritime Academy is located in Vallejo, CA (Midsize City setting); Massachusetts College of Art and Design is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• California State University Maritime Academy is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California State University Maritime Academy 11:1; Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1.

CMA vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CMA or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Maritime Academy than Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($19,040 vs. $24,864).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Maritime Academy are 25.1% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($14,536 vs. $19,412).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is 54.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CMA (about $5,456 more per year; $15,400.00 vs. $9,944.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.5% higher at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at California State University Maritime Academy (about $20,856 more per year; $43,400.00 vs. $22,544.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at California State University Maritime Academy (84% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Maritime Academy students is 5.9% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($11,038 vs. $10,421).

CMA vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CMA or Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Massachusetts College of Art and Design and CMA.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CMA - Test-free; Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CMA Dec 15, 2026; Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Massachusetts College of Art and Design students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at CMA (3.43).
• CMA has a higher acceptance rate (95%) than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (76.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.7% at CMA vs. 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

CMA vs. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CMA and Massachusetts College of Art and Design? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than California State University Maritime Academy's (62%).
• Graduates from California State University Maritime Academy earn a median of about $51,800 more per year than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($90,500 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have a $276 lower median loan debt than CMA graduates ($25,250 vs. $25,526).
• Among borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CMA graduates ($261 vs. $263).
• More CMA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.