The New England Institute of Art, located in Brookline, Massachusetts, is a for profit institution accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) through its Commission on Institutions of Higher Education (CIHE).

The college was founded in 1952 as the Norm Prescott School of Broadcasting. It was sold ten years later to Victor Best who renamed it the Northeast Broadcasting School.

Mr. Best operated the school until 1988, when it was purchased by The Northeast Company, Inc. At that time, the curriculum consisted of a single Radio and Television Broadcasting diploma program, with all students enrolled in a prescribed set of courses. The school added a second diploma program in the Recording Arts in July 1991.

In September 1995, the college was granted authority to award two Associate in Science degrees: one in Broadcasting and another in Recording Arts. The school changed its name to The Northeast College of Communications, Inc., and was renamed again in 1997 as Massachusetts Communications College. In 1998, it was granted authority to award three more Associate in Science degrees in Communications Studies, Multimedia Communications and Internet Communications.

In 1999, the College became part of The Art Institutes system when it was acquired by The Art Institutes' parent company, Education Management Corporation (EDMC). The Art Institutes system currently operates over 40 schools in North America, offering degree and certificate programs in media arts, design, fashion and culinary arts.

In June 2000, Massachusetts Communications College was authorized to award the Associate in Science degree in Graphic Design. In September 2000, it was granted approval to retitle the Associate in Science in Recording Arts to A.S. in Audio Production and the A.S. in Multimedia Technology to the A.S. in Multimedia & Web Design.

The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education approved the request for a name change from Massachusetts Communications College to The New England Institute of Art & Communications in July 2001.

In December 2001, The New England Institute of Art & Communications gained approval to offer Bachelor of Science degrees. In 2002, the College opened The Center for Professional Development, offering certificate programs.

In May 2003, the Board of Trustees approved the Institute's request to change its name to The New England Institute of Art. This final name change better reflects The New England Institute of Art commitment to all types of art, from communication arts to design.

Additional Bachelor of Science degree programs have been added since 2004, including Media Arts & Animation, Digital Filmmaking & Video Production, Interior Design, Advertising, Photography and Fashion & Retail Management, as well as an Associate in Science degree in Photography. In 2008 the Interactive Media Design program was changed to Web Design & Interactive Media.