Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Nichols

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA with Nichols College in Dudley, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than Nichols based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 1,392 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Nichols College is in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1; Nichols College 15:1.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Nichols Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Massachusetts College of Art and Design or Nichols? 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design than Nichols ($24,864 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nichols College are 18.6% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($15,800 vs. $19,412).
• Nichols College is 177.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $27,305 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at Nichols College (about $695 more per year; $43,400.00 vs. $42,705.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (99% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 147.7% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($25,809 vs. $10,421).

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Nichols Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Massachusetts College of Art and Design or Nichols? 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 Nichols and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsNichols College 1028/1236.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free; Nichols - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Massachusetts College of Art and Design students have a 0.63 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (76.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. 18.1% at Nichols.

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

How do outcomes compare for Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Nichols? 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 Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Nichols College earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($25,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Nichols graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (68% 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.