Massachusetts Community Colleges
Art Programs
Art and visual-arts coursework at community colleges in this state. Studio art, art history, and design-track classes for fine-arts transfer.
4 colleges · 153 sections · 73 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Massachusetts community college art programs span studio art (drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics) and applied design (graphic design, digital media, illustration). The 153 sections across 4 MassCC colleges this term include intro studio courses, art history, design fundamentals, and software-specific training (Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, Blender for 3D).
Two distinct outcomes: the studio-art associate is largely transfer-prep for BFA programs at four-year art schools; the graphic-design AAS is a direct-to-career credential preparing students for entry design roles, agency junior positions, and in-house marketing teams. Compare colleges below — programs with strong portfolio-development emphasis place graduates better than those focused purely on technique.
Earnings & outcomes for Art graduates
Federal College Scorecard data on what graduates of this program actually earn after completion. Where a school’s cohort is too small to publish, we show the national benchmark for the same field of study.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, per-program (4-digit CIP) data. CIP 5004 — Design and Applied Arts. School cohorts are suppressed by the federal source when fewer than ~30 completers in the reporting cohort.
Colleges offering Art
| College | Sections | Courses | Online | Awards/yr | 5-yr earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middlesex Community College | 67 | 40 | 16 | 25 | — |
| Springfield Technical Community College | 40 | 23 | 4 | 15 | — |
| Holyoke Community College | 28 | 19 | 1 | 27 | $29,261 |
| Greenfield Community College | 18 | 14 | — | 7 | — |
Art Availability Snapshot
How art sections are being offered across 4 colleges in Massachusetts this term (153 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person126 (82%)
- online21 (14%)
- hybrid6 (4%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)83
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)45
- Evening (5 PM and after)5
- Asynchronous / TBA20
Start dates
Sections begin on 4 distinct dates. 5 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 40 distinct instructors across 4 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Berkshire Community College2 programs
Bristol Community College4 programs
Cape Cod Community College2 programs
Greenfield Community College3 programs
Holyoke Community College3 programs
Massasoit Community College2 programs
Middlesex Community College4 programs
Mount Wachusett Community College1 program
Recommended Course Sequence
62 credits- ART 263Drawing I(3 cr)not offered
- ART 251Two-Dimensional Design(3 cr)not offered
- ART 252Three-Dimensional Design(3 cr)not offered
- ART 259Ceramics I(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 101College Writing I(3 cr)not offered
- ART 264Drawing II(3 cr)not offered
- ART 253Painting I(3 cr)not offered
- ART 109Art History I(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 102College Writing II(3 cr)not offered
- MAT 126Topics In Mathematics (or higher)(3 cr)not offered
- ART 269Drawing III(3 cr)not offered
- ART 271Sculpture I(3 cr)not offered
- ART 254Painting II(3 cr)not offered
- ART 110Art History II(3 cr)not offered
- ART 212Portfolio and Digital Tools(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
North Shore Community College6 programs
Northern Essex Community College1 program
Requirements
63 credits- ART 104Art History From Prehistory to Early Renaissance(3 cr)not offered
- ART 105Art History from the Renaissance to the Present(3 cr)not offered
- ART 108Three Dimensional Foundations(4 cr)not offered
- ART 109Two Dimensional Foundations(4 cr)not offered
- ART 111Drawing I(4 cr)not offered
- ART 115Digital Foundations(3 cr)not offered
- ART 235Portfolio for Art(1 cr)not offered
- ENG 101English Composition I(3 cr)not offered
- ENG 102English Composition II(3 cr)not offered
Source: College catalog
Roxbury Community College1 program
Springfield Technical Community College3 programs
Common Art courses
- ART 121Drawing I(14 sections)
- ART 101Art Appreciation(7 sections)
- ART 102History of Visual Design(6 sections)
- ART 104Message Design(6 sections)
- ART 130Ceramics II(6 sections)
- ART 101LLab: Int Art/Bas Des(4 sections)
- ART 102LLab: Basic Drawing(4 sections)
- ART 103Drawing for Communication &Des(4 sections)
- ART 1252D: Two Dimensional Design(4 sections)
- ART 129Ceramics I(4 sections)
- ART 194Ceramics III(4 sections)
- ART 1132-D Design(3 sections)
Career outlook for Art graduates
Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data for the primary career outcome of this program (2024 OEWS release). Compare Massachusetts’s typical pay to the national picture before choosing where to study.
Massachusetts's typical pay is about 36% above the typical state — a strong sign of healthy local demand.
Wage data reflects all workers in the occupation, not just recent CC graduates — entry-level pay is typically lower. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I be a graphic designer with just a community-college degree?
- Yes — the AAS in graphic design is a complete entry-level credential, and most Massachusetts programs are designed to build a portfolio strong enough for junior designer roles. Hiring is heavily portfolio-driven; the degree gets you in the door but your portfolio determines whether you get the role. Software fluency (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) is table stakes.
- Will my art credits transfer to a BFA program?
- Studio courses (drawing, painting, sculpture) typically transfer as elective credit toward a BFA but may not fulfill specific BFA major-requirement slots — BFA programs usually want their own foundation sequence. Art history and gen-ed courses transfer cleanly. The associate of fine arts (AFA) is the strongest transfer-prep pathway if you know you'll continue to a BFA; check articulation agreements with target schools.
- What's the difference between studio art and graphic design programs?
- Studio art is fine-art-oriented (creating original work, often for galleries or commission); graphic design is commercial-art-oriented (creating work to client briefs for marketing, branding, packaging, web). The career economics are very different — graphic designers have many more entry roles available; studio artists typically need to build a separate career while developing their practice.
- Do I need to be 'good at art' to start?
- Less than you'd think for graphic design — the program teaches design principles and software from the foundation up. Studio art programs assume more foundational drawing skill but most Massachusetts CCs offer beginner-level studio courses; the question is whether you have time and motivation to put in the hours of practice that any visual-art career requires.
Compare Art programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Massachusetts’s art programs stack up.
Other programs in Massachusetts
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.