PAFA School vs SVA NYC

When it comes to art education, two prominent institutions that often come to mind are the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and the School of Visual Arts (SVA). While both schools offer a comprehensive range of programs in the visual arts, there are some key differences that set them apart. PAFA, with an acceptance rate of 50%, is a more selective institution compared to SVA's 75% acceptance rate. PAFA's student body is predominantly made up of undergraduates, while SVA has a larger graduate student population. In terms of popular majors, PAFA focuses primarily on fine arts, while SVA offers a wider range of programs including design, film, and photography. To help you make an informed decision about your art education, we've compiled a detailed comparison table that delves into these differences and more, including graduation rates, tuition fees, and notable alumni.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts logo

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

School of Visual Arts logo

School of Visual Arts

Overview

Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania New York, New York
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (For Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 84.0% 85.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.6% 71.3%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $80
SAT range N/A 1140 - 1363
ACT range N/A 22 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 14.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0%
Total number of applicants 122 4,208
Total number of admissions given out 102 3,000
Admitted students who chose to enroll 10 771
Yield rate 9.8% 25.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $66,804 $74,968
Average net price $29,925 $51,634
Tuition $38,926 $45,000
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $29,528
63.0%
Average amount $16,551
Students receiving federal student loan 61.0%
Average amount $5,864
24.0%
Average amount $5,267
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
7.0%
Average amount $32,503

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 121
Men 24.0% Women 76.0%
3,529
Men 27.4% Women 72.6%
Graduate students 57
Men 21.1% Women 78.9%
582
Men 24.9% Women 75.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 65.5%
International students 6.7% 53.9%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 37 1,092
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A New York New Jersey California Florida Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Communications Technology
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 4:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 47.2% 73.9%
Dropout rate 33.3% 13.6%
Transferred out 16.7% 11.5%
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
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,688
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $79,178
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,823
  • Year 3: $56,128
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,114
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: $54,214
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,489
  • Year 2: $31,567
  • Year 3: $31,458
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,424
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $30,286
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,481
  • Year 2: $24,863
  • Year 3: $26,003
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $14,518
  • Year 2: $13,132
  • Year 3: $18,637
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,405
  • Year 2: $17,489
  • Year 3: $17,701
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,635
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,856
  • Year 3: N/A

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