Simon's Rock vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, MA with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bard College at Simon's Rock is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (314 students vs. 41 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bard College at Simon's Rock is located in Great Barrington, MA (Distant Town setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Bard College at Simon's Rock is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bard College at Simon's Rock 6:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

Simon's Rock vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Simon's Rock or PAFA? 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 Academy of the Fine Arts than Simon's Rock ($33,323 vs. $41,013).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are 1% lower than at Bard College at Simon's Rock ($18,662 vs. $18,852).
• Bard College at Simon's Rock is 54.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than PAFA (about $24,180 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 54.2% higher at Simon's Rock than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (about $24,180 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts than at Bard College at Simon's Rock (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College at Simon's Rock students is 72% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students ($42,635 vs. $24,785).

Simon's Rock vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Simon's Rock or PAFA? 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 PAFA and Simon's Rock.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Simon's Rock - Test-free; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Simon's Rock Jun 1, 2027; PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

Simon's Rock vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Simon's Rock and PAFA? 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).

• Graduates from Bard College at Simon's Rock earn a median of about $17,900 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College at Simon's Rock graduates have a $12,000 lower median loan debt than PAFA graduates ($14,500 vs. $26,500).
• Among borrowers, Simon's Rock graduates have an estimated $125 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PAFA graduates ($149 vs. $274).
• More Simon's Rock graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 63%)

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.