Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. VSU

Comparable Facts

Compare Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA with Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Virginia State University is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (5,605 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); Virginia State University is in Petersburg, VA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Virginia State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1; Virginia State University 13:1.

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. VSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design or VSU? 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 Virginia State University than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($17,840 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia State University are 22.5% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($13,355 vs. $17,230).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 220.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than VSU (about $22,107 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $10,043.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.9% higher at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Virginia State University (about $9,500 more per year; $32,150.00 vs. $22,650.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design than at Virginia State University (100% vs. 92%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students is 20.4% larger than aid received by Virginia State University students ($14,989 vs. $12,447).

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. VSU Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 840/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsVirginia State University 14/20.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free; VSU - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.13) than students at VSU (2.85).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than VSU (88.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. 14.3% at VSU.

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

How do outcomes compare for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and VSU? 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 Virginia State University's (40%).
• Graduates from Virginia State University earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than VSU graduates ($27,000 vs. $29,500).
• Among borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than VSU graduates ($279 vs. $305).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VSU students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 28%)

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.