FIT vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, NY with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fashion Institute of Technology is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (8,206 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fashion Institute of Technology is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Fashion Institute of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fashion Institute of Technology 16:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

FIT vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FIT 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 Fashion Institute of Technology than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($16,340 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 32.3% lower than at Fashion Institute of Technology ($17,230 vs. $25,458).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 410.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than FIT (about $25,856 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $6,294.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90.5% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Fashion Institute of Technology (about $15,276 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $16,874.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Fashion Institute of Technology (100% vs. 43%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 80.5% larger than aid received by Fashion Institute of Technology students ($14,989 vs. $8,304).

FIT vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FIT 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 FIT.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FIT - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: FIT Jan 1, 2027.
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than FIT (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.8% at FIT vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

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

How do outcomes compare for FIT 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).

• Graduates from Fashion Institute of Technology earn a median of about $22,900 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,600 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fashion Institute of Technology graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, FIT graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($201 vs. $279).
• More FIT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.