College of Arts, Media and Design

What College of Arts, Media and Design does

CAMD (College of Arts, Media and Design) is Northeastern University's college for creative and interdisciplinary education, serving 2,800 students across undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in six academic departments (Architecture, Art + Design, Communication Studies, Journalism, Music, Theatre) and three research centers (Center for the Arts, Center for Design, Center for Transformative Media). Its technical core spans AI, extended reality (VR/AR/MR), data visualization, game design, and media production, with proprietary labs including the AI-Media Strategies (AIMS) Lab and the OASIIS Lab (a partnership with Massachusetts General Hospital developing VR-based orthopedic rehabilitation technology). The college offers 64 combined majors, 55 minors, 18 undergraduate STEM degrees, a PlusOne pathway for combined undergraduate/master's credentials, and a co-op program that has placed 1,600+ students since 2018.

CAMD's revenue model is primarily tuition-driven, with graduate tuition at $2,059 per credit (2025-2026). Revenue is augmented by graduate student scholarships, graduate assistantships, foundation grants (Mellon Foundation $500K for Civic Data Theatre; Ford Foundation $450K for Disability Justice Project), and corporate engagements (e.g., Lexus Milan Design Week collaboration). Customer segments are predominantly individual students (undergraduate and graduate), with secondary revenue from non-degree special students and corporate/institutional research partners. Distribution is direct-to-consumer through Northeastern's admissions system, with programs available at global campuses in Oakland, London, Vancouver, and NYC.

The college is led by Dean R. Benjamin Knapp (appointed July 2025, joining from Virginia Tech) and has recently refreshed leadership in Art+Design and Communication Studies with interim chairs. CAMD's competitive position is reinforced by the broader Northeastern University network, a 14,000-alumni global base, and brand recognition including Billboard's 2025 Top Music Business Schools and Fast Company's 2023 World Changing Ideas Honorable Mention.

Name

College of Arts, Media and Design

Legal name

College of Arts, Media and Design

Website

https://camd.northeastern.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CAMD is Northeastern University's college for arts, media, and design, serving 2,800 students across six departments with interdisciplinary programs that integrate AI, VR/AR, data visualization, and creative practice, plus a 1,600+ placement co-op program and global campus network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Graduate tuition charged per credit at $2,059 per credit (2025-2026 rate). Undergraduate tuition separate. Revenue generated from student enrollment across all programs including undergraduate, graduate, certificate, and non-degree special student status.
2. Graduate Student Scholarships: College of Arts, Media and Design Graduate Student Scholarships (GSS) awarded as percentage tuition reductions to admitted full-time master's students based on merit and departmental recommendations.
3. Graduate Assistantships: Compensated hourly positions in research, teaching, and administrative roles within academic departments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CAMD is an educational college within Northeastern University that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across six academic departments: Architecture, Art + Design, Communication Studies, Journalism, Music, and Theatre. It supplements degree programs with experiential learning through co-op employment, global learning opportunities, and research via three research centers and multiple specialized labs. The college also operates the PlusOne pathway enabling students to earn combined undergraduate and master's degrees in different subject areas.

Product overview

The College of Arts, Media and Design (CAMD) is an educational institution offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs across six academic departments: Architecture, Art + Design, Communication Studies, Journalism, Music, and Theatre. The college operates on a platform model combining interdisciplinary academic study with experiential learning through co-op programs, global learning opportunities, and media studios. CAMD provides research centers including the Center for the Arts, Center for Design, and Center for Transformative Media, along with specialized labs like the AI-Media Strategies (AIMS) Lab and OASIIS Lab for healthcare technology research. The college also offers the Plus One pathway for combined undergraduate and master's degrees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Architecture Programs Architecture and landscape architecture undergraduate and graduate programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1.6K+ unique co-op placements since 2018
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Massachusetts General HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026OASIIS Lab (Orthopedic Augmentation, Surgical Innovation and Interactive Systems) is a partnership between Northeastern researchers and orthopedic surgeons at MGH. Led by MGH orthopedic surgeons Christopher Bono and Daniel Tolbert along with Northeastern's Casper Harteveld, the lab explores how game design and immersive technology can improve physical therapy and rehabilitation outcomes.
• LexusflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2025Paolo Ciuccarelli and student research assistants collaborated with Lexus to create an interactive installation for Milan Design Week, focusing on sustainability and design innovation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• USC School of Cinematic Arts: USC's School of Cinematic Arts is one of the premier media/film schools in the US, offering programs across animation, interactive media, and journalism. It directly competes with CAMD's Media Studios and Journalism departments for media-oriented students.
• Parsons School of Design: Parsons is a top design school within The New School, offering undergraduate and graduate programs in design, fashion, and art. It is a direct competitor to CAMD's Art + Design and Architecture departments for design-focused students and faculty.
• Carnegie Mellon School of Design: CMU's School of Design is a top design program within a major research university, comparable to CAMD's Art + Design department in its integration with technology and interdisciplinary research focus.
• Tisch School of the Arts: Tisch is NYU's professional school of the arts, offering programs in film, television, theatre, and emerging media. It directly competes with CAMD's Theatre, Journalism, and Media programs for students and faculty nationally.

Emerging players

• Berklee College of Music: Berklee is a leading music and performing arts institution recognized by Billboard for industry preparation. It directly competes with CAMD's Music department, particularly given CAMD's inclusion in Billboard's 2025 Top Music Business Schools.
• MIT Media Lab: MIT Media Lab is a research laboratory at MIT focused on interdisciplinary projects at the intersection of technology, media, and design. It is comparable to CAMD's Center for Transformative Media and AIMS Lab in research focus, though it operates as a graduate research lab rather than a degree-granting college.

Broad incumbents

• School of the Art Institute of Chicago: SAIC is a leading standalone institution for visual and studio arts education. It is comparable to CAMD's Art + Design department for attracting art students, with similar interdisciplinary and studio-based pedagogy.
• School of Visual Arts: SVA is a New York-based standalone art and design school with strong programs in graphic design, illustration, and advertising. It is comparable to CAMD's design and visual arts offerings, particularly for New York-area applicants.
• Pratt Institute: Pratt is a standalone institution offering programs in art, design, and architecture with strong specialization. It is a comparable peer to CAMD for design and architecture students, though it operates as an independent college rather than a department within a university.
• Rhode Island School of Design: RISD is one of the most prestigious standalone art and design schools in the US. It is a comparable peer to CAMD for art and design applicants, though its narrow specialization differs from CAMD's broader arts/media portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/northeastern
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Northeastern/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/NortheasternCAMD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/centerfordesign
• Instagraminstagram.com/northeasternglobalnews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about College of Arts, Media and Design