Massachusetts families whose household adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less are eligible to have tuition and standard fees covered through a combination of federal, state and institutional scholarships and grants.
MassArt Start is an initiative designed to make world-class education in art and design accessible to all. This program is available to Massachusetts residents who meet financial eligibility requirements, ensuring that talented students can focus on their studies and creative growth, not on how to afford their education.
*If you are not eligible to file the FAFSA, submit the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) by April 1st, 2026.
MassArt Start covers the cost of tuition for eligible students through a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid. A significant portion of the funding is offered through MA state financial aid programs, including the MassGrant PLUS program, which provides additional support to Massachusetts residents with financial need. Once you qualify for MassArt Start, you will not need to pay tuition, allowing you to focus entirely on your studies and creative growth. The program is designed to eliminate financial barriers and make a MassArt education more accessible, enabling you to fully engage in your academic and artistic development.
MassArt Start covers in-state tuition and standard fees. Standard fees are those charged along with tuition, to make up the total student charges. For example, for the 2025-2026 academic year, tuition is assessed at $1,060 and standard fees are assessed at $14,860, for a total of $15,860 in in-state tuition and standard fees. Fees assessed in addition to the standard fees might include late fees, travel course fees, study abroad fees, or other specific fees associated with different programs, and would therefore not be covered by MassArt Start. Additional information related to the cost of Tuition and Fees can be found here.
Fees other than standard fees are not covered by MassArt Start (see above.) Also not covered are the cost of on-campus or off-campus housing, meals, or other expenses. Additional information related to the Financial Aid Cost of Attendance can be found here.
Yes, MassArt Start is renewable each year, provided you continue to meet the eligibility requirements and contingent upon funding. You will need to reapply for financial aid annually by submitting the required forms (FAFSA or MASFA), and your financial need will be reassessed each year. If you remain eligible, you will continue to receive MassArt Start funding for the duration of your undergraduate education.
To apply for MassArt Start, you will need to complete the following steps:
MassArt Start is limited to students whose family’s annual gross income (AGI) is $75,000 or less. If your family’s AGI is higher than this, you will not be eligible for MassArt Start. However, you may still be eligible for other forms of financial aid, and we encourage you to apply for financial assistance through FAFSA or MASFA.
Students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible for MassArt Start. Full-time enrollment for undergraduates at MassArt is defined as enrollment in at least 9 credits per semester.
No, MassArt Start is not available for summer enrollment costs.
No. Your eligibility for MassArt Start depends on your initial application start semester. For example, if you apply for admission to MassArt as a transfer student for the Fall 2026 semester and file after the applicable FAFSA or MASFA priority deadline date, and then defer to the Spring 2027 semester, you would not be eligible for MassArt Start. If you defer to the following academic year (Fall 2027), you may become eligible by filing the FAFSA or MASFA by the applicable priority deadline date and fulfilling all other requirements for the program.
We may reduce your total federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships if you are in receipt of a tuition waiver, so as to not exceed the cost of tuition and standard fees. We will never reduce your federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships if you are in receipt of outside scholarships, unless the total of your grants and scholarships exceeds your Cost of Attendance. We will do everything we can to first reduce any loans and work-study in your financial aid package, before reducing any scholarships and grants.
If you have any questions about MassArt Start, please feel free to reach out to the Office of Student Financial Assistance at financialaid@massart.edu or the Admissions Office at admissions@massart.edu.
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