SUNY-Potsdam vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare SUNY College at Potsdam in Potsdam, NY with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

SUNY College at Potsdam is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (2,832 students vs. 41 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• SUNY College at Potsdam is located in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• SUNY College at Potsdam is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: SUNY College at Potsdam 11:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

SUNY-Potsdam vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY-Potsdam or PAFA? 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 SUNY College at Potsdam than PAFA ($13,730 vs. $33,323).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Potsdam are 18.1% lower than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($15,280 vs. $18,662).
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 408.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-Potsdam (about $35,832 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $8,768.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 138.8% higher at PAFA than at SUNY College at Potsdam (about $25,922 more per year; $44,600.00 vs. $18,678.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts than at SUNY College at Potsdam (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students is 122.3% larger than aid received by SUNY College at Potsdam students ($24,785 vs. $11,147).

SUNY-Potsdam vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY-Potsdam or PAFA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between PAFA and SUNY-Potsdam.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY-Potsdam - Test optional; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

SUNY-Potsdam vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY-Potsdam and PAFA? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than SUNY College at Potsdam's (51%).
• Graduates from SUNY College at Potsdam earn a median of about $17,100 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,100 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY College at Potsdam graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than PAFA graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,500).
• Among borrowers, SUNY-Potsdam graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PAFA graduates ($258 vs. $274).
• More PAFA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY-Potsdam students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

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.