SFAI or Massachusetts College of Art and Design?

[bambamart]

I am going to grad school for an MFA in painting.

It will cost about 60K in loans (after a 6k scholarship over 2 yr's at 3k/yr.) to go to Mass Art, 116k to go to SFAI.

SFAI will take 3 years and 11 mo's (low residency program 9 weeks /yr).

Mass. Art will take 2 yr's and 1 mo. (low residency program 7 weeks /yr).

Massart MFA is ranked 3.6 on US News rankings

SFAI is ranked 3.5 for overall MFA programs on US News rankings.

SFAI is ranked #19 in painting. Rankings only went 25 places or so and Mass. Art wasn't on the list for painting.

Mass Art is half the time and almost half as expensive.

Mass Art has some classes online and is taught at a small facility on the tip of cape Cod in Provincetown, SFAI is taught at the regular school facility by teachers who are (more so than MASS ART) also instructors in the full time program.

For some logic defying reason I can't completely justify, I want to spend almost twice as much time AND money going to SFAI (who haven't offered me any scholarships etc... though I was a last minute applicant applying 2.5 months after the priority deadline). Financial help next year(s)... unlikely???

SFAI program seems a bit more legit with more full time staff and facilities, SF seems like a better place to be in general.....

Anyone have advice for me... i have about 18 hr's to make up my mind and I have never been so conflicted...

My work is anatomical Pop Surrealism btw.

Thanks in advance!

[michaelwebster]

Sounds tricky. Do you have to go to a low res program? I am not sure I trust in low res since so much of what I learned in grad school was from immersion in the particular environment, peers, and local opportunities.

Not to mention the reasoning to pay for such expensive schooling as SFAI is to try to build a career with the MFA as the platform, which I don't really believe low res gives you the network for that.

Mass Art is a much better deal, SFAI is way too expensive and not worth it, while Mass Art is at least acceptable but still too expensive for low res. I would recommend making the sacrafice to go to school full time if your going to pay anything more than 10-20k.