Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

About Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 400 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.

Official website: pcad.edu

Acceptance

99.2%

Graduation

39%

Net Price

$30,083

Median Earnings (10yr)

$33,301

Enrollment

400

Student : Faculty

9:1

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 Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 99.2%, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 $30,083 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees

$32,150

Room & Board (on-campus)

$17,230

Room & Board (off-campus)

$17,230

Books & Supplies

$1,650

Other Expenses (on-campus)

$1,200

Other Expenses (off-campus)

$1,200

Total Cost of Attendance

$43,815

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
  $24,547
• $30,001 – $48,000
  $24,115
• $48,001 – $75,000
  $26,576
• $75,001 – $110,000
  $30,876
• Over $110,000
  $37,851

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.

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.

Graduation Rate & Retention

39% of full-time students who enrolled at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduate within six years, and 84% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Pennsylvania College of Art and Design earn a median of $33,301 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

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.

Who Studies Here

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is home to 400 students, an intimate, close-knit community.

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

What You Can Study

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design offers a focused set of programs: 3 distinct programs across 1 major. 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.

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).

Faculty by Rank

15 instructional faculty across 2 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.

Pros & Cons of Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Pennsylvania College of Art and Design tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.