Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Montserrat College of Art #1468 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,510 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montserrat College of Art in the 11.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Montserrat College of Art #1464 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Montserrat College of Art's composite ranking reflects its balance of access, affordability, and return on investment. Graduates earn about $14,510 less than similar students at comparable institutions, supported by the institution's focus on visual and performing arts education. These outcomes position Montserrat as a strong option for students seeking a creative-focused education with clear financial outcomes.
Azimuth ranks Montserrat College of Art #1468 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Montserrat College of Art is a private university in Beverly, Massachusetts, enrolling roughly 226 undergraduates. The institution maintains a 90.9% freshman retention rate and a 53.5% six-year graduation rate. Montserrat College of Art specializes in visual and performing arts education, a focused program portfolio that shapes both its student body and its economic outcomes. 35.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.8% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population drawn from diverse economic backgrounds. Graduates earn about $14,510 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montserrat College of Art in the 11.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Montserrat College of Art #1464 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The composite reflects a school where return on investment anchors the overall value proposition. Access sits in the 7.3 percentile, affordability in the 7.6 percentile, and mobility in the 61.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions. For students committed to arts-focused careers, Montserrat College of Art delivers measurable long-term financial outcomes that exceed what similar students achieve at comparable institutions — a meaningful advantage in a field where earnings trajectories vary widely by institution and program quality.
Montserrat College of Art's published cost of attendance is $58,616. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $25,388, middle-income families pay around $32,347, and higher-income families pay approximately $39,001. Azimuth ranks Montserrat College of Art #1317 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Montserrat College of Art participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution evaluates demonstrated financial need to construct aid packages. The gap between published cost of attendance and net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income families — understanding how net price differs from sticker price helps families budget realistically for enrollment. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $47,902; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $35,321, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Montserrat College of Art is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a small private college experience in Beverly, MA. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $35,321, placing Montserrat College of Art in the 0.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — graduates earn about $14,510 less than similar students at comparable institutions. Those figures track MA's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,113. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 35.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 32.8% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates that place Montserrat College of Art in the 56.2% percentile for Pell completion rates among nonprofit four-year institutions. Published cost of attendance is $58,616 and median federal debt at graduation is $27,000. The strongest program rankings cluster in Visual & Performing Arts, which represents 73% of graduates — students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Montserrat College Of Art hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Fine and Studio Arts
9 graduates
Graphic Communications
7 graduates
Design and Applied Arts
31 graduates
Montserrat College of Art's program mix is anchored in visual and performing arts — a portfolio shaped by the institution's specialized focus on creative disciplines. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 31 graduates, followed by Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, Fine and Studio Arts, and Graphic Communications.
Across 5 programs serving roughly 69 students annually, the institution concentrates its offerings in creative and design-intensive fields where Arts represents 73% of graduates. The earnings pattern reflects the creative-industries focus.
Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $37,179 with 9 graduates, while Graphic Communications graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $34,006 with 7 graduates. Design and Applied Arts rounds out the highest-earning programs with median 4-year earnings of $33,496 and 31 graduates.
These outcomes reflect the direct-to-workforce pathway typical of visual and performing arts graduates, who enter creative industries, freelance practice, or design-focused roles immediately after completion. Montserrat College of Art's specialized program portfolio positions students for careers in creative fields where earnings depend heavily on portfolio strength, professional networks, and market demand.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-discipline outcomes align with national labor-market trends in design, fine arts, and performing arts sectors.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Montserrat College of Art's published cost of attendance is $58,616. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $25,388, middle-income families pay around $32,347, and higher-income families pay approximately $39,001.
Azimuth ranks Montserrat College of Art #1317 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Montserrat College of Art participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the institution evaluates demonstrated financial need to construct aid packages.
The gap between published cost of attendance and net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income families — understanding [how net price differs from sticker price](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) helps families budget realistically for enrollment. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $47,902; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $35,321, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Montserrat College of Art earn median 4-year earnings of $35,321, placing Montserrat College of Art in the 0.8 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $14,510 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Montserrat College of Art in the 11.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Montserrat College of Art #1464 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Montserrat College of Art's concentration in visual and performing arts.
Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 31 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $33,496, performing at 0.7x the national benchmark for the field. Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies and Film/Video and Photographic Arts round out the top enrollment clusters, while Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $37,179 — 0.9x the national benchmark — and Graphic Communications reaches $34,006 with 0.8x benchmark performance.
These outcomes demonstrate that Montserrat College of Art's specialized arts focus delivers measurable financial returns for graduates entering creative and design-intensive careers.
