PAFA School vs The University of the Arts (UArts)

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) and The University of the Arts (UArts) stand out as two esteemed institutions dedicated to nurturing artistic talent. While both share a commitment to excellence in arts education, they offer distinct experiences for aspiring artists. PAFA, with its rigorous fine arts focus and acceptance rate of 48%, attracts students seeking intensive training in traditional art forms. UArts, on the other hand, boasts a broader range of arts programs, including design, music, and dance, and welcomes a more diverse student body with an acceptance rate of 75%. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details on acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your artistic aspirations and academic goals.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts logo

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

The University of the Arts logo

The University of the Arts

Overview

Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 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 84.0% 87.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 83.6% 85.2%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
Undergraduate: $60

Graduate: $60
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 1,293
Total number of admissions given out 102 1,101
Admitted students who chose to enroll 10 269
Yield rate 9.8% 24.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Not 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 $68,690
Average net price $29,925 $25,932
Tuition $38,926 $48,350
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $11,380

Meal plan: $6,250
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $29,528
100.0%
Average amount $26,798
Students receiving federal student loan 61.0%
Average amount $5,864
94.0%
Average amount $5,851
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $0
21.0%
Average amount $24,297

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 121
Men 24.0% Women 76.0%
1,397
Men 34.7% Women 65.3%
Graduate students 57
Men 21.1% Women 78.9%
160
Men 28.8% Women 71.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 6.7% 2.8%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 37 582
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
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Education
  • Communications Technology
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • English Language and Literature
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% 68.1%
Dropout rate 33.3% 31.7%
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
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $45,721
  • Year 2: $50,677
  • Year 3: $49,511
Museology/Museum Studies (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,796
  • Year 2: $36,848
  • Year 3: $44,041
Crafts/Craft Design, Folk Art and Artisanry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,047
  • Year 2: $21,964
  • Year 3: $30,926
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $18,932
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $29,322
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,815
  • Year 2: $20,140
  • Year 3: $28,945
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,696
  • Year 2: $21,052
  • Year 3: $28,612
Dance (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,267
  • Year 2: $21,613
  • Year 3: $26,673
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $16,297
  • Year 2: $18,771
  • Year 3: $25,853
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $21,067
  • Year 2: $22,329
  • Year 3: $25,752
Music (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $18,579
  • Year 2: $19,358
  • Year 3: $25,140

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