Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Bluefield State University

Comparable Facts

Compare Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA with Bluefield State University in Bluefield, WV on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bluefield State University is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,141 students vs. 414 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Bluefield State University is in Bluefield, WV (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bluefield State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1; Bluefield State University 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bluefield State University are 33.2% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($11,512 vs. $17,230).
• Out-of-state tuition is 75% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Bluefield State University (about $13,774 more per year; $32,150 vs. $18,376).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Bluefield State University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 52.7% larger than aid received by Bluefield State University students ($14,989 vs. $9,814).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, test optional at Bluefield State University.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bluefield State University Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Bluefield State University average a 3.41 high school GPA, 0.28 higher than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. 32.8% at Bluefield State University.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bluefield State University graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($19,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Bluefield State University graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates ($196 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bluefield State University students, three years after graduation (58% vs. 30%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.