Montserrat College of Art provides intensive artistic training for students committed to creative careers, though families should expect modest financial returns typical of specialized art education.
The college offers meaningful access to students from diverse backgrounds while focusing on artistic development rather than economic outcomes.
Montserrat College of Art is a small private nonprofit institution in Beverly, Massachusetts, specializing in art and design education. As a focused art school, it serves students seeking intensive creative training rather than broad liberal arts education. The college enrolls about 33% Pell Grant recipients and 33% first-generation students, showing meaningful access for students from diverse economic backgrounds.
However, Montserrat faces significant financial outcome challenges typical of specialized art institutions. Graduates earn a median of $33,022 ten years after enrollment, placing the college in the bottom 10% nationally for long-term earnings. The institution's focused mission means students should expect modest financial returns compared to comprehensive universities, with most career paths in the creative industries offering lower initial compensation but potential for growth through portfolio development and artistic reputation.
For students committed to artistic careers, Montserrat provides the specialized training and creative community that larger institutions cannot match. Families considering this path should understand that the value proposition centers on artistic development and creative network building rather than immediate financial returns.
Montserrat College of Art focuses primarily on Art History, Criticism and Conservation, which represents the institution's largest program with 21 graduates. These students typically enter careers in museums, galleries, arts administration, or cultural institutions, where early-career earnings around $21,964 reflect the compensation realities of the nonprofit arts sector.
The concentrated program focus means most students follow similar career trajectories in the cultural and creative industries. While immediate financial returns are modest, these fields often provide opportunities for growth through expertise development, curatorial experience, and specialized knowledge that can lead to leadership roles over time.
As a small, specialized institution, Montserrat graduates enter a focused alumni network within the arts community. The college's boutique scale means graduates often maintain close connections with faculty and peers, which can be valuable for career development in relationship-driven creative industries.
Graduates of Montserrat College of Art face challenging financial realities common to specialized art education. Ten years after enrollment, they earn a median of $33,022, significantly below national averages for college graduates. The college's earnings performance places it in the bottom 10% nationally, reflecting the broader economic landscape for creative careers where entry-level positions often offer modest compensation.
The institution's program focus centers heavily on Art History, Criticism and Conservation, which represents the largest program by enrollment with 21 graduates. These graduates earn around $21,964 in early career years, typical for museum, gallery, and arts administration roles that often require additional experience or advanced degrees for higher compensation. The concentrated program offerings mean most students enter similar career paths with comparable earning trajectories.
While immediate financial returns are modest, many art careers build value over time through portfolio development, reputation, and entrepreneurial opportunities that traditional salary data cannot capture. Students should view their investment as career foundation building rather than immediate financial payoff.
Montserrat College of Art presents significant affordability challenges for most families. Low-income students face net prices around $30,337 annually, while middle-income families pay approximately $38,246, and higher-income families see costs of about $36,684. These prices place substantial financial pressure on families across all income levels, particularly given the modest earnings outcomes graduates typically achieve.
Debt levels compound the affordability concerns. Typical graduates leave with $27,000 in federal student loan debt, and families often rely heavily on Parent PLUS loans averaging $33,802. The combination of high educational costs and lower post-graduation earnings creates a challenging financial equation that requires careful family planning and realistic expectations about repayment capacity.
Families considering Montserrat should approach the investment with clear understanding that the financial return will be limited compared to other educational paths. The value proposition rests primarily on artistic training and creative development rather than economic outcomes.
Montserrat College Of Art Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
