Design and Applied Arts at Montserrat College of Art

Montserrat's Design and Applied Arts program sits at the bottom of Massachusetts rankings, placing in just the 10th percentile statewide—graduates earn roughly $31,000 less than peers at Wentworth or Northeastern. That first-year median of $19,865 is genuinely tough, falling below the poverty line and ranking in the bottom 5% nationally. The $27,000 in debt is actually average for the field, but when you're earning under $20,000, any debt becomes a burden.

The trajectory does improve significantly: earnings nearly double by year four to $36,540, which approaches the national median. This growth pattern is typical for creative fields where early-career freelance work and internships eventually lead to steadier employment. However, even with that improvement, graduates still trail the Massachusetts median by $6,000 and remain well behind stronger regional programs.

For families considering this program, the core question is whether Montserrat's specific artistic training justifies starting so far behind financially. If your child is set on this particular school's approach, understand they'll likely need family support or additional income sources in those first years post-graduation. Massachusetts offers multiple design programs with dramatically better earnings outcomes at similar debt levels—worth exploring those alternatives unless Montserrat's specific faculty or curriculum represents an irreplaceable fit.