Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

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

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 41 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design than PAFA ($24,864 vs. $33,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are 3.9% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($18,662 vs. $19,412).
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 189.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $29,200 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at PAFA than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $1,200 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $43,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 137.8% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($24,785 vs. $10,421).

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027; PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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).

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Massachusetts College of Art and Design's (68%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design earn a median of about $16,700 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,250 lower median loan debt than PAFA graduates ($25,250 vs. $26,500).
• Among borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PAFA graduates ($261 vs. $274).
• More Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.