Curtis Institute of Music vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, PA with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Curtis Institute of Music is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (161 students vs. 41 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Curtis Institute of Music is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Curtis Institute of Music 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: Curtis Institute of Music 2:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

Curtis Institute of Music vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Curtis Institute of Music 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 Curtis Institute of Music than PAFA ($23,686 vs. $33,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are 11.3% lower than at Curtis Institute of Music ($18,662 vs. $21,035).
• In-state tuition differs between Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and Curtis Institute of Music ($44,600.00 vs. $0.00).
• Out-of-state tuition differs between PAFA and Curtis Institute of Music ($44,600.00 vs. $0.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Curtis Institute of Music as at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 218.8% larger than aid received by Curtis Institute of Music students ($24,785 vs. $7,774).

Curtis Institute of Music vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Curtis Institute of Music or PAFA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between PAFA and Curtis Institute of Music.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Curtis Institute of Music - Test-free; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Curtis Institute of Music Dec 18, 2026; PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

Curtis Institute of Music vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Curtis Institute of Music and PAFA? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's six-year graduation rate is 73%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Curtis Institute of Music.
• Graduates from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts have median earnings of about $22,000 about ten years after starting college (College Scorecard). Comparable earnings data is not available for Curtis Institute of Music.

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.