
Montserrat College of Art was founded in 1970 in Beverly, Massachusetts, as an independent school focused on visual art and design. It developed into a small college offering a Bachelor of Fine Arts, with studio work at the center of its curriculum.
Its history matters to applicants because Montserrat's academic model was built around intensive art study rather than a broad selection of unrelated majors. Historical descriptions of the college do not, however, establish whether it is currently accepting new students. Anyone considering an application should confirm its operating and enrollment status before paying a fee or making plans to transfer.
Montserrat College of Art has been organized as a specialized art college, not as a university with separate schools of business, engineering, and the arts. Its principal undergraduate credential is the Bachelor of Fine Arts.
Areas associated with its undergraduate curriculum include illustration, graphic design, photography, fine and studio arts, and other forms of visual communication and interdisciplinary practice. Students evaluating a particular concentration should check the current catalog for its exact name, course sequence, studio requirements, and availability. In a small art college, the distinction between a named major and a course or elective area can be important.
Montserrat College of Art is in Beverly, a North Shore city in the Boston metropolitan area. Its setting places students in a walkable downtown community rather than on a large, self-contained university campus.
Beverly has commuter-rail connections to Boston, which can expand access to museums, exhibitions, and internships but also makes schedules and transportation costs relevant to off-campus opportunities. Boston Logan International Airport is the nearest major airport. Prospective commuters should assess travel to the specific buildings where their classes would meet, not just to Beverly in general.
Montserrat's stated educational purpose has centered on developing visual artists and designers through studio practice, critique, and engagement with the wider community. That is an institutional aim, not evidence that every student will have the same academic or career outcome.
For a prospective student, the practical question is whether an intensive, critique-based art curriculum fits their goals. Applicants interested in a particular artistic discipline should compare the published curriculum, faculty expertise, facilities, and required non-studio coursework with those at other colleges.
Name of the institution
Montserrat College of ArtLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
Suburb: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
Under 1,000School type
Four-year collegeMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1970Montserrat College of Art is institutionally accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Bachelor's degreeData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.