The MFA in Studio Art program, offered through the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts, emphasizes intensive studio practice, creative collaboration, formal and informal mentorships, and rigorous academic discourse through an interdisciplinary studio art curriculum. During this two-year program, you'll join a vibrant and supportive community committed to making art that shapes our global society and collective future. Graduate studio courses are taught on the SMFA Fenway Campus in the Mission Hill Studio Building and Tufts' Medford Campus.

Program Outcomes

As an MFA student, you'll develop your studio practice with the support of faculty and fellow students with deep engagements and expertise across disciplines and mediums. You'll work closely with faculty and staff to develop a personalized studio curriculum, and will have access to resources across Tufts. MFA students take part in seminars that explore a variety of subjects within contemporary art, and critiques and Review Boards serve as a crucial driving force in the growth and transformation of your practice.

Our faculty are successful working artists and seasoned educators with broad professional networks and a commitment to supporting emerging artists. Through their teaching and mentorship, you will be guided in the development of your own unique artistic practices. Through the MFA program, you'll advance your presentation, research, and art-making skills, and position yourself for a long and productive independent art practice.

Optional Concentration in Museum Studies

You may choose to apply to the Master of Fine Arts program with an optional concentration in Museum Studies. With this option, the Museum Studies certificate program's four courses (two required, two electives) will count toward a student's non-studio course requirements for the MFA program.

Application Requirements

In addition to the general application requirements, the program requires the following supplemental information:

Portfolio: All applicants are required to submit a visual art portfolio consisting 10-20 images of recent work and/or up to 10 minutes of time-based work. We encourage you to submit work that you believe to be the strongest representation of your skills and experiences to date, regardless of medium. The ideal portfolio will demonstrate your conceptual development while highlighting your technical abilities. Find more information about the visual art portfolio here.
Resume/CV: This should include exhibitions and awards, as well as professional experiences and related activities, such as research.
Personal Statement: The essay should not exceed three pages and should address the following questions:
- Tell us about your most recent/current art work.
- What would you identify as important artistic and intellectual influences on your art work? In addition to artists, this might also include writers, scientists, theorists, and other cultural producers.
- In what ways do you hope to expand and further your art practice at SMFA at Tufts?
Three letters of recommendation
Official TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test scores, if applicable. A minimum TOEFL score of 90 (iBT), IELTS score of 6.5, or Duolingo score of 100 is required for admission.

Applications received after the priority deadline will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Application Requirements for Optional Concentration in Museum Studies

Admitted MFA applicants will have the option of applying into the Museum Studies Concentration after receiving their MFA admission decision.

Applicants to the Museum Studies Concentration must submit a 400-word supplemental essay explaining your experience with and/or interest in museum work, as well as what you hope to gain from the concentration. This document can be submitted directly to SMFA Graduate Admissions via email.

Tuition & Fees

GSAS bills tuition using a per-credit billing model, meaning you are billed for the number of credits you take each semester. This billing model is used to provide students better flexibility so they may "pay-as-they-go".

Tuition*	$1,588 per credit
Total Credits Required	62
Enrollment Status	Part-Time: 3-6 credits (typically 1-2 courses) Full-Time: 9+ credits (typically 3 or more courses)

Estimating Tuition Costs for this Program

This example pathway outlines estimated tuition costs per semester using a typical full-time course load. This is one possible pathway to completion; actual credits, costs, enrollment status, and degree completion time may vary based on a student’s course load.

Full-Time Pathway	Fall	Spring	Total
Year 1	15 credits	15 credits	30 credits
Year 1	$23,820	$23,820	$47,640
Year 2	16 credits	16 credits	32 credits
Year 2	$25,408	$25,408	$50,816
Estimated Total Tuition Before Aid*			$98,456*

Note: this example does not account for any scholarships that may be awarded at the time of admission. GSAS offers generous merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for qualified applicants. A list of funding opportunities is provided below.

*Estimated based on 2026-2027 tuition rates. Rates are subject to change each academic year. For further information about the full cost of attendance, including health insurance, fees and estimated indirect costs (housing, transportation, etc.), visit Student Financial Services.

Financial Aid & Funding Opportunities

At Tufts University, we believe that every qualified applicant should have the opportunity to pursue graduate study, regardless of financial circumstances. We are committed to helping you navigate the financial aspects of your education and strive to make graduate school accessible through a variety of support options.

Scholarships and Awards Available for this Program

Merit- and need-based tuition scholarships for master’s programs: To be considered, be sure to indicate your interest within the Financial Aid section of your application.
The Future Leaders Fellowship is a full-tuition scholarship for outstanding full-time master’s students and entry-level OTD students. Future Leaders Fellows are selected by the GSAS Dean following their admittance to Tufts.
City Year Corps members, alumni, and staff are eligible to receive a minimum scholarship award of 25% off tuition.

Work Opportunities and Awards:

There are various graduate assistantships and work opportunities available for Master’s students across Tufts. In addition, SMFA offers Graduate Assistantships to enrolled MFA students, paid hourly.
SMFA Graduate students may apply for various grants during their study, such as the Dean’s Research Award (up to $500) or the Tufts Graduate Research Competition (up to $1000).
The MFA Program offers a limited amount of grants, such as the Montague Travel Grant.
The Graduate Student Open Access Publishing Fund provides financial support to students who want to publish their work open access.
The Graduate Student Research Competition provides funding for expenses including equipment, materials, and supplies; research participant compensation; and expenses of travel to conduct research.
Graduate Student Conference Reimbursement Fund is available for students to travel to present at or attend at a conference or professional meeting.
The Tisch Library Graduate Fellowship in the Arts & Humanities provides funding for MA, MFA, and PhD students conducting research over the summer.

Visit our Graduate Financial Aid page for information on loans and financing options.

I didn't want to be boxed into working in just one medium. SMFA is supportive of artists with interdisciplinary practices.

Amanda Pickler, MFA 23

At Tufts, the interdisciplinary program opened up a world of possibilities. I found so many opportunities to explore different art forms, and I gained a kind of confidence I couldn't have imagined before-the confidence, for example, to put together a sculptural installation or create music.