Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than Plaza College based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 1,002 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1; Plaza College 28:1.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Massachusetts College of Art and Design or Plaza College? 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 Plaza College than Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($19,860 vs. $24,864).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Plaza College are 20.2% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($15,500 vs. $19,412).
• Plaza College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $50 more per year; $15,450.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 180.9% higher at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at Plaza College (about $27,950 more per year; $43,400.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Plaza College than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (93% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students is 56.4% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($10,421 vs. $6,665).

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Plaza College? 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).

• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $11,335 lower median loan debt than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($13,915 vs. $25,250).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $118 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates ($143 vs. $261).
• More Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 30%)

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.