Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 23 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
48/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes48
Value1
Affordability23
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
0.9 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $42,454 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$42,454
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
65%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$44,600
Room & Board (off-campus)
$18,662
Books & Supplies
$1,768
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$6,408
Total Cost of Attendance
$66,106
Application fee: $60 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$39,928
$30,001 – $48,000
$42,301
$48,001 – $75,000
$42,893
$75,001 – $110,000
$44,893
Over $110,000
$46,702
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,77110%percentile
$9,25025%percentile
$22,309Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,250
↓ $2,059
No Pell $16,375
↓ $5,934
Female students $19,500
↓ $2,809
Male students $21,500
↓ $809
What this means:
35% of students receive Pell grants. Most cost is borne by families above Pell thresholds. Verify your individual aid offer before deciding.
Graduation Rate & Retention
60% of full-time students who enrolled at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduate within six years, and 42% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
60%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
42%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts earn a median of $29,881 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$29,881
Earning > $25K
52%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
11.7 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 67% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is home to 23 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
23
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 56.5%13
Hispanic 13.0%3
Other 13.0%3
International 8.7%2
Black 4.4%1
Asian 4.4%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large CityPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential27 beds for 23 students
Adult Learners
16%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts offers
a focused set of programs:
6 distinct programs across
2 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 5:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
5:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$91M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,877
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
21 instructional faculty across 3 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
15
71%
$55,140
Associate Professors
3
14%
$38,528
Assistant Professors
3
14%
$55,910
Pros & Cons of Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
High published cost of attendance before aid
Best for:
Based on the data, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
How much does Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts cost?
The average net price after aid at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is $42,454 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $29,881 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $42,454 per year. That's roughly 0.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts known for?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is best known for its programs in Fine Arts, Fine Arts, Design. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are $29,881, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts accredited?
Yes. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts enrolls 23 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates 60% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts a public or private college?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts located?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts offer?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts offers 6 distinct programs. The most popular include Fine Arts, Fine Arts, Design.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 5:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Pennsylvania
Other colleges in Pennsylvania share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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