Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Ferrum College

Comparable Facts

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

Ferrum College is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (763 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); Ferrum College is in Ferrum, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ferrum College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1; Ferrum College 11:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ferrum College are 23.2% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($13,230 vs. $17,230).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Ferrum College (about $3,630 more per year; $32,150 vs. $28,520).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Ferrum College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Ferrum College students is 129.8% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($34,444 vs. $14,989).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, test optional at Ferrum College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Ferrum College Sep 15, 2026.
• Enrolled first-year students at Ferrum College average a 3.14 high school GPA, 0.01 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. 11.5% at Ferrum College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Ferrum College graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ferrum College graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ferrum College students, three years after graduation (58% vs. 49%).

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