PAFA vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

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

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (414 students vs. 41 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is located in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

PAFA vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PAFA 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than PAFA ($28,826 vs. $33,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 7.7% lower than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($17,230 vs. $18,662).
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 38.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $12,450 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.7% higher at PAFA than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $12,450 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts as at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 65.4% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($24,785 vs. $14,989).

PAFA vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PAFA 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 PAFA.

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

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

How do outcomes compare for PAFA 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).

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($28,700 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($26,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, PAFA graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($274 vs. $279).
• More PAFA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (63% 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.