Fisher College vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

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

Fisher College is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,652 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fisher College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Fisher College 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: Fisher College 14:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Fisher College 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 Fisher College than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($28,596 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 4.5% lower than at Fisher College ($17,230 vs. $18,041).
• Fisher College is 11% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $3,539 more per year; $35,689.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11% higher at Fisher College than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $3,539 more per year; $35,689.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Fisher College (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fisher College students is 69.3% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($25,379 vs. $14,989).

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

Which college is harder to get into, Fisher College 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 Fisher College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fisher College 800/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fisher College 15/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fisher College - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.13) than students at Fisher College (2.72).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Fisher College (70.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.1% at Fisher College vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

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

How do outcomes compare for Fisher College 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).

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Fisher College's (48%).
• Graduates from Fisher College earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,000 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fisher College graduates have a $7,813 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($19,187 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Fisher College graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($198 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisher College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 45%)

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.