Paul Smith's College vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (948 students vs. 41 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is located in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 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: Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

Paul Smith's College vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paul Smith's 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than PAFA ($28,443 vs. $33,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science are 23.7% lower than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($14,236 vs. $18,662).
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 35.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paul Smith's College (about $11,591 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.1% higher at PAFA than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $11,591 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science as at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 7.9% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($24,785 vs. $22,973).

Paul Smith's College vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paul Smith's College 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 Paul Smith's College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Paul Smith's College - Test-free; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

Paul Smith's College vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paul Smith's College 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's (37%).
• Graduates from Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science earn a median of about $14,700 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than PAFA graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,500).
• Among borrowers, Paul Smith's College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PAFA graduates ($258 vs. $274).
• More Paul Smith's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.