Art Center College of Design vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than Art Center College of Design ($28,826 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 12.2% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($17,230 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 68.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $22,020 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.5% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $22,020 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Art Center College of Design students is 49.5% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($22,412 vs. $14,989).

Art Center College of Design vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Art Center College of Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Art Center College of Design (74.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Art Center College of Design vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Art Center College of Design's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $29,600 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($279 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 58%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.