Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $56,728 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $32.4K more than the national median. The 99% who received grants paid $54,295 on average; the other 1% paid the full sticker price of $78,345.
- Full price
- $78,345 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Published data end at $110K
- use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
- Merit aid
- 17% · avg $4K
- of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
- With an average merit award: $75K · proxy: 17% got one. A possibility, not a promise
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $45K a year |
| $30–48K | $45K a year |
| $48–75K | $28K a year |
| $75–110K | $52K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
$56,728
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
99% got grants averaging $21,803; 1% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$27K
≈ $286/month for 10 years
3.9 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
44% of undergrads borrow federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full15–19%
- Paying it down35–39%
- Payments paused20–28%
- Not paying it down20–24%
- Behind or in default0–10%
- Forgiven or discharged0–5%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
ModerateGrants cover 28% of the $78,345 full price on average across all first-years (moderate), more than at 19% of colleges.
$21,617 in grants per first-year ÷ $78,345 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (235), 2023–24
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (235)
- Federal aid + grants192avg grant $25.6K
- Grants, no federal aid41avg grant $3.8K
- No grants2pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (200 of 235), because income is only reported for them.
Applying for aid
For fall 2025 entrants.
Priority date: March 1 · Aid offers: on a rolling basis from November 15
Dates for fall 2025 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
What the college's own scholarships consider
| Academics | ✓ | not marked |
|---|---|---|
| Art | ✓ | not marked |
| State or district residency | ✓ | not marked |
A blank means the college didn't mark it, not that it never counts.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Otis College of Art and Design Common Data Set 2024–25, 2025–26;Otis College of Art and Design Common Data Set 2024–25, Fall 2025 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)