Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. The New England Conservatory of Music

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, MA with The New England Conservatory of Music 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 The New England Conservatory of Music based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 853 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); The New England Conservatory of Music is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The New England Conservatory of Music is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1; The New England Conservatory of Music 5:1.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Massachusetts College of Art and Design or The New England Conservatory of Music? 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 The New England Conservatory of Music ($24,864 vs. $50,367).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Art and Design are 3% lower than at The New England Conservatory of Music ($19,412 vs. $20,010).
• The New England Conservatory of Music is 294.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $45,350 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40% higher at The New England Conservatory of Music than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $17,350 more per year; $60,750.00 vs. $43,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The New England Conservatory of Music than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (98% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The New England Conservatory of Music students is 194.7% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($30,707 vs. $10,421).

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Massachusetts College of Art and Design or The New England Conservatory of Music? 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 The New England Conservatory of Music and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free; The New England Conservatory of Music - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027; The New England Conservatory of Music Dec 1, 2026.
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than The New England Conservatory of Music (41.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. 29.5% at The New England Conservatory of Music.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. The New England Conservatory of Music Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Massachusetts College of Art and Design and The New England Conservatory of Music? 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).

• The New England Conservatory of Music's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Art and Design's (68%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $36,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($25,250 vs. $29,000).
• Among borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than The New England Conservatory of Music graduates ($261 vs. $299).
• More The New England Conservatory of Music graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.