PAFA School vs Otis College

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and Otis College of Art and Design (Otis) stand out as two esteemed institutions dedicated to nurturing artistic talent. While both share a commitment to excellence in art education, they offer distinct experiences for aspiring artists. PAFA, rooted in the traditions of classical art, emphasizes rigorous training in drawing, painting, and sculpture. In contrast, Otis embraces a more contemporary approach, encouraging students to explore diverse media and interdisciplinary practices. With PAFA's acceptance rate hovering around 50% and Otis's at 75%, the former presents a more selective admissions process. Additionally, PAFA's student body leans slightly female, while Otis boasts a more balanced gender ratio. As you delve into the comparison table, you'll uncover further insights into these institutions' unique offerings, helping you make an informed decision about your artistic journey.

	Otis College of Art and Design	Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Overview
Location	Los Angeles, California	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	City: Large	City: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate and Graduate	Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate	78.0%	84.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	79.8%	83.6%
Application fees	Undergraduate: $50 Graduate: $50	Undergraduate: $60 Graduate: $60
SAT range	1130 - 1360	N/A
ACT range	20 - 29	N/A
Students submitting SAT score	13.0%
Students submitting ACT score	3.0%
Total number of applicants	2,284	122
Total number of admissions given out	1,823	102
Admitted students who chose to enroll	263	10
Yield rate	14.4%	9.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Not required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$70,802	$66,804
Average net price	$45,402	$29,925
Tuition	$47,700	$38,926
Room & board	$15,744
Available payment plans	Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	100.0% Average amount $21,593	100.0% Average amount $29,528
Students receiving federal student loan	48.0% Average amount $5,811	61.0% Average amount $5,864
Students taking out private loans	5.0% Average amount $26,799	0.0% Average amount $0

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	1,197 Men 30.5% Women 69.5%	121 Men 24.0% Women 76.0%
Graduate students	55 Men 18.2% Women 81.8%	57 Men 21.1% Women 78.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity	Moderate	Low
Out-of-state students	N/A	N/A
International students	30.2%	6.7%
Campus local/setting	City: Large	City: Large
Dormitory capacity	403	37
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	N/A	N/A

Academics
Popular study areas	Visual & Performing Arts Architecture English Language and Literature	Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio	9:1	4:1
Institutional accreditation	Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	68.6%	47.2%
Dropout rate	31.4%	33.3%
Transferred out	N/A	16.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $38,497 Year 2: $42,123 Year 3: $48,158 Visual and Performing Arts, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $36,531 Year 2: $38,289 Year 3: $39,370 Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $17,166 Year 2: $18,315 Year 3: N/A Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $22,667 Year 3: N/A	Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $28,722 Year 2: $19,749 Year 3: $28,395 Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees) Year 1: $27,413 Year 2: $22,764 Year 3: $26,502

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PAFA School vs Otis College

Otis College of Art and Design

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Overview

Admission

Tuition and Fees

Financial Aid

Students and Campus

Academics

Outcome

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