Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees in Massachusetts by ROI
Colleges in Massachusetts ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in Massachusetts
11
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$177,717
Across Massachusetts programs
Average Annual Cost
$58,243
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Grad rate: 68.7% |
+$71,670 | $58,412 | $55,030 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Endicott College
Grad rate: 76.7% |
+$998 | $55,379 | $57,533 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
Northeastern University
Grad rate: 90.8% |
-$3,229 | $60,016 | $81,353 | $28,250 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Stonehill College
Grad rate: 79.9% |
-$30,888 | $54,138 | $68,412 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Suffolk University
Grad rate: 60.1% |
-$86,818 | $52,046 | $62,822 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Grad rate: 51.8% |
-$132,298 | $43,543 | $31,677 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Grad rate: 67.7% |
-$161,904 | $42,111 | $32,256 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Boston University
Grad rate: 89.5% |
-$310,203 | $44,463 | $82,694 | $21,250 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Lesley University
Grad rate: 61.6% |
-$314,799 | $37,894 | $49,226 | $26,500 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Lasell University
Grad rate: 57.1% |
-$356,618 | $38,669 | $63,387 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Montserrat College of Art
Grad rate: 61.5% |
-$630,806 | $23,539 | $56,284 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Design and Applied Arts Degrees by State
Browse Design and Applied Arts programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.