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 tables 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.

Cost details

• 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).
• 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 vs. $22,650).
• 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).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, test optional at VSU.
• Typical fall application deadline: VSU May 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design average a 3.13 high school GPA, 0.28 higher than at VSU (2.85).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs. 14.3% at VSU.

Loans and repayment

• 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, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.