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NSU Morgan State Bowie State University RU North Carolina Central University Old Dominion Delaware State University Hampton University ECSU WSSU Temple Longwood University| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | Virginia State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PAFA | VSU | ||
| Location | Philadelphia, PA | Petersburg, VA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 172 | 4,648 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #980 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pafa.org | vsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PAFA | VSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,500 | $5,540 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,500 | $16,542 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,512 | $11,544 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $48,191 | $15,773 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $16,087 | $11,498 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 80% | 92% |
Admission |
PAFA | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 183 | 8,230 | ||
| Admitted | 167 | 7,384 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 91.3% | 89.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 11.4% | 18.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 2.85 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 14/17 | |||
| SAT Range | 830/1030 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Feb 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
PAFA | VSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 5:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PAFA | VSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 73% | 40% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $22,000 | $36,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 28% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,500 | $29,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $274 | $305 |
Diversity |
PAFA | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 61% | 3% | ||
| % Black | 5% | 87% | ||
| % Hispanic | 7% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 6% | 0% | ||
| % International | 6% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 7% |
Students |
PAFA | VSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 53% | 72% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 42% | 27% | ||
Campus |
PAFA | VSU | ||
| Campus Housing | No | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | No | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Virginia State University is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (4,648 students vs. 172 students)
PAFA vs. VSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PAFA or VSU?
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 631% more expensive to attend than VSU for in-state tuition ($40,500.00 vs. $5,540.00)
- Out of state tuition is 144.8% higher at PAFA than Virginia State University ($40,500.00 vs. $16,542.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia State University than PAFA ($15,773 vs. $48,191)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 51.7% lower than costs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($11,544 vs. $17,512)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia State University than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (92% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 39.9% larger than aid received Virginia State University ($16,087 vs. $11,498)
PAFA vs. VSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PAFA or VSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VSU or PAFA .
- PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than VSU (89.7%)
PAFA vs. VSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PAFA or VSU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between VSU and PAFA.
- The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than Virginia State University (73% vs. 40%)
- Graduates from Virginia State University earn on average $14,700 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($36,700 vs. $22,000)
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than VSU graduates. ($26,500 vs. $29,500)
- PAFA graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than VSU graduates. ($274 vs. $305)
- More PAFA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 28%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/