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 tables 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.

Cost details

• 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).
• 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 vs. $32,150).
• 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).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Massachusetts College of Art and Design and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Massachusetts College of Art and Design average a 3.53 high school GPA, 0.4 higher than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• 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.

Loans and repayment

• 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.