Hampshire College vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare Hampshire College in Amherst, MA with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hampshire College is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (844 students vs. 41 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Hampshire College is located in Amherst, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Hampshire College 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: Hampshire College 13:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

Hampshire College vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Hampshire College 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 Hampshire College than PAFA ($27,895 vs. $33,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hampshire College are 14.5% lower than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($15,958 vs. $18,662).
• Hampshire College is 32.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than PAFA (about $14,296 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.1% higher at Hampshire College than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (about $14,296 more per year; $58,896.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Hampshire College as at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampshire College students is 86.2% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students ($46,145 vs. $24,785).

Hampshire College vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Hampshire College - Test-free; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Hampshire College Jan 15, 2027; PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

Hampshire College vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Hampshire College 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 (73%) is higher than Hampshire College's (61%).
• Graduates from Hampshire College earn a median of about $15,100 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,100 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have a $2,969 lower median loan debt than PAFA graduates ($23,531 vs. $26,500).
• Among borrowers, Hampshire College graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PAFA graduates ($243 vs. $274).
• More Hampshire College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.