PAFA School vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand as prominent institutions in the realm of art education, each offering unique opportunities for aspiring artists. While both schools share a commitment to fostering creativity and artistic excellence, they differ in several key aspects. PAFA, located in the heart of Philadelphia, boasts a long and storied history, dating back to 1805, while SFAI, situated in the vibrant city of San Francisco, has established itself as a contemporary art powerhouse since its founding in 1871. This side-by-side comparison delves into the acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates of these two esteemed art schools, providing valuable insights for prospective students seeking the ideal environment to nurture their artistic talents.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts logo

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

San Francisco Art Institute logo

San Francisco Art Institute

Overview

Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania San Francisco, California
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 84.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.6% 94.7%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 122 169
Total number of admissions given out 102 160
Admitted students who chose to enroll 10
Yield rate 9.8%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $66,804
Average net price $29,925
Tuition $38,926
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $29,528
Students receiving federal student loan 61.0%
Average amount $5,864
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 121
Men 24.0% Women 76.0%
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students 57
Men 21.1% Women 78.9%
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 6.7% N/A
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 37 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 4:1 4:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 47.2% 31.8%
Dropout rate 33.3% 68.2%
Transferred out 16.7% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $32,786
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,309
  • Year 2: $30,119
  • Year 3: $30,264
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,116
  • Year 2: $28,381
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,494
  • Year 2: $22,420
  • Year 3: $16,882
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $16,008
  • Year 3: N/A