WPI vs. PAFA

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than PAFA based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 41 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts 2:1.

WPI vs. PAFA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI 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 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts than WPI ($33,323 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are 1.5% lower than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($18,386 vs. $18,662).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 36.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than PAFA (about $16,365 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.7% higher at WPI than at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (about $16,365 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $44,600.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 27.3% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students ($31,545 vs. $24,785).

WPI vs. PAFA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WPI 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 WPI.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; PAFA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027; PAFA Feb 1, 2027.

WPI vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WPI 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.

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's (73%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $60,700 more per year than PAFA graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $22,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates have a $500 lower median loan debt than WPI graduates ($26,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, PAFA graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WPI graduates ($274 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 63%)

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.