Massachusetts is famous for many things. It’s one of the oldest state’s in the U.S., it’s home to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and it is home to Harvard University—North America’s oldest and most prestigious University. Massachusetts also has an energetic art and culture scene. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) is one of the largest art and culture centers in the U.S. and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts is one of the most coveted in the region, if not the nation. The state’s status as an art and historic center attract aspiring artists of all kinds, including digital artists.
Aspiring digital artists are attracted to Massachusetts for another reason as well. The state is home to several major colleges that offer digital art programs. They can be found all over the state from Amherst to Springfield. Some are offered at four-year universities, while others are offered at community colleges, extension centers, and art centers. Massachusetts is home to 120+ accredited colleges, with more than 343,050 students enrolled. Many are art and design students. In fact, more than 4,453 students currently attend Massachusetts’s top art schools. The state’s large collection of traditional, art, technical, and specialty schools offer all programs from A-Z.
Massachusetts Digital Art Schools
Many aspiring artists and designers end up in Boston where the art and culture scene is the most vibrant. In Boston, schools such as Northeastern University attract aspiring designers and artists of all kinds, and in Springfield, Springfield College is a top choice. Continue reading to learn more about Massachusetts’s best options for digital artists and what they have to offer.
Amherst
Hampshire College - Degrees Offered: B. A. Animation and Digital Art; Digital Media
Boston
Northeastern University - Degrees Offered: B. F. A. Digital Art, Graphic Design; Combined Majors in Game Design, Interactive Media (type of degree awarded depends on the combination chosen); M. F. A. Studio Art
Springfield
Springfield College - Degrees Offered: B. S. Computer Graphics/Digital Art
More Digital Art related programs to consider:
- San Francisco & Online
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#14) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#37) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Illustration (#24) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Graphic Design (#38) - 2021
- Winter Park, FL & Online
- Computer Animation - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Game Programs - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Graphic Design & Digital Arts - Bachelor's - Online & Campus
- Film & Digital Cinematography - Bachelor's & Master's - Online & Campus
- Mobile Development - Bachelor's - Online
- Simulation & Visualization - Bachelor's - Campus
- Top 50 Nationally for Animation (#11) - 2021
- Top 50 Nationally for Game Design (#10) - 2021
- Top 25 in the South for Graphic Design (#10) - 2021
- Online
Employment and Salary Trends for Massachusetts Digital Artists
Massachusetts was home to nearly 40,000 artists in 2002. By 2010, the population had increased to nearly 60,000. The average salary for Massachusetts artists overall is $57,710 annually, up from $46,020 in 2002. Salaries for digital artists vary greatly. Some digital artists earn between $52,000-$60,000 a year, while others may earn $89,000 all the way up to $129,000+ per year. In addition, salaries for digital artists vary even further by field. For example, Massachusetts’s animators average more than $56,670 annually, while graphic designers average $52,170. Illustrators average more than $45,000 and art directors average $91,380.
Nationwide, mean annual wages of artists were $41,660 in 2002. The lowest paid artists earned less than $16,000, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $73,000. By 2010, the mean annual wage for artists was $52,290. The lowest paid artists earned $19,480 and the highest paid artists averaged an impressive $91,770.