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 table 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.

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Ferrum College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Ferrum College? 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 Ferrum College than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($20,082 vs. $28,826).
• 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).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 12.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ferrum College (about $3,630 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $28,520.00).
• 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; $32,150.00 vs. $28,520.00).
• 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).

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. Ferrum College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or Ferrum College? 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 Ferrum College and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsFerrum College 880/1100.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free; Ferrum College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Ferrum College Sep 15, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Ferrum College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.14) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Ferrum College (89%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. 11.5% at Ferrum College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Ferrum College? 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 College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Ferrum College's (31%).
• Graduates from Ferrum College earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.