WPI vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, MA with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (7,584 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is located in Worcester, MA (Midsize City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Worcester Polytechnic Institute 13:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

WPI vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WPI or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 College of Art and Design than WPI ($28,826 vs. $47,372).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design are 6.3% lower than at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($17,230 vs. $18,386).
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 89.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $28,815 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.6% higher at WPI than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $28,815 more per year; $60,965.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Worcester Polytechnic Institute as at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 110.5% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($31,545 vs. $14,989).

WPI vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WPI - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: WPI Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.77 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) 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 WPI (60.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at WPI vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

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

How do outcomes compare for WPI and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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).

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute's six-year graduation rate (76%) is higher than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's (52%).
• Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn a median of about $54,000 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,700 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and WPI graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and WPI graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 58%)

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.