Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,989 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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: Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($24,864 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 11.2% lower than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design ($17,230 vs. $19,412).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 108.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $16,750 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35% higher at Massachusetts College of Art and Design than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $11,250 more per year; $43,400.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 43.8% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($14,989 vs. $10,421).

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

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Massachusetts College of Art and Design students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (76.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

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

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

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Massachusetts College of Art and Design earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($25,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (64% 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.