School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts

230 The Fenway, Boston, Massachusetts

Background Image: SMFA

Combine the power of a prestigious art school with a world-class academic institution to offer an unparalleled interdisciplinary education through the unique partnership between School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and Tufts University. With guidance from faculty advisors, who are professional artists, students build a path of study informed by their individual aspirations, creative vision and academic interests. As one of two schools in the United States affiliated with a major museum SMFA, students have access to the MFA’s collections, as well as exclusive exhibition opportunities and internships. Partnerships with Northeastern University, the Pro-Arts Consortium, and other top-ranked colleges in Boston provide additional academic opportunities for degree-seeking students. With a student body comprised of motivated artists from all over the United States and 25 countries, the SMFA values cultural, artistic, and intellectual diversity. The School presents an annual schedule of notable visiting artists, public programs, and professional development resources. This is the school for students seeking to break boundaries and be the future of contemporary art.

DEGREES OFFERED: BFA, Combined Degree (BFA + BA/BS), Post-baccalaureate Certificate, MFA, and MAT degrees in interdisciplinary studio art; artistic disciplines are listed below “Majors Offered”
ACCREDITATION: NECHE
LEGEND

Certificate
Associates Degree
Bachelor's Degree

Postbaccalaureate Certificate
Low-Residency Masters
Masters Degree


Fully Online
Partially Online
Optional Online

UNDERGRADUATE COST OF ATTENDANCE 2025-2026
FULL-TIME  
TUITION $ 71,982
MANDATORY FEES 1,634
BOOKS & SUPPLIES 1,000
ON-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD 19,566
OFF-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD 19,566
OTHER 1,846
FINANCIAL AID 2023-2024 FULL-TIME FRESHMEN *
AID CATEGORY AVG PER RECIPIENT 1st YR RECIPIENTS
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS3 $57,576 90%
FEDERAL/NATIONAL GRANTS 5,432 30%
STATE & LOCAL GRANTS 4,500 47%
FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS 3,735 45%

AVERAGE AMOUNT RECEIVED PER RECIPIENT: $57,854
97% OF FULL-TIME FRESHMEN RECEIVED AID

* Most recent financial aid data available

ACCEPTANCE RATE: 33%

Acceptance Rate = The percentage of students admitted out of applications received in a given year.

 
ENROLLMENT: FALL 2024

UNDERGRADUATE FTE1 = 671

UNDERGRADUATE

FULL-TIME 668
PART-TIME 8

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
APPLICATION: Required
ONLINE APPLICATION: Recommended
APPLICATION FEES: 65 (approximate)
HOME EXAM: Not Required
INTERVIEW: Recommended
ESSAY: Required
SAT / ACT: N/A
PORTFOLIO: Required
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: Required (2)
IELTS: Required if English is a second language
Minimum score 7
TOEFL: Required if English is a second language
Minimum score 79

TRANSCRIPTS

HIGH SCHOOL: Required
COLLEGE: Required, if transferring
FACULTY: 2024-2025

FACULTY FTE1 = 67

FULL-TIME 38
PART-TIME 49
 

STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: FALL 2024
10.0 TO 1
FTE STUDENTS PER FTE FACULTY1

RETENTION

FRESHMAN RETENTION

FALL 2022 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2023
88%
 
FALL 2023 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2024
83%
GRADUATION

SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE

FALL 2017 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
61%
 
FALL 2018 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
63%

UNDERGRADUATE ETHNICITY

FALL 2024

UNDERGRADUATE GENDER DISTRIBUTION

FALL 2024

NEW STUDENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION2

FALL 2024
OTHER PROGRAMS

Studio Diploma
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
Continuing Education
Weekend Classes
Summer Classes
Classes for High School Students
Evening Certificate Programs (Graphic Design, Illustration)
Pre College Summer Programs

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Degree Programs with Tufts University
Exchanges (AICAD Exchange Program, Pro Arts Consortium, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Foreign Programs)
Internships
Career Resources
Traveling Fellowships and Exhibiting Opportunities for Alumni
Grants for Travel and Independent Study

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc. NOTE 2: Geographic distribution is reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. NOTE 3: Includes all institutional scholarships and grants, but does not include College Work Study or third party awards.