Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCAD) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand out as prominent institutions offering specialized art education. While both colleges share a commitment to fostering creativity and artistic expression, they differ in several key aspects. PCAD boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for aspiring artists. SFAI, on the other hand, has a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. In terms of popular majors, PCAD offers a wider range of programs, including animation, graphic design, and illustration, while SFAI focuses primarily on fine arts disciplines such as painting, sculpture, and photography. Additionally, the student body demographics and graduation rates vary between the two institutions, reflecting their unique characteristics and educational approaches. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into these differences and discover which college aligns best with your artistic aspirations and academic goals.
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design logo

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

San Francisco Art Institute logo

San Francisco Art Institute

Overview

Location Lancaster, Pennsylvania San Francisco, California
Campus setting City: Small City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 75.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 51.3% 94.7%
Application fees $40
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 187 169
Total number of admissions given out 96 160
Admitted students who chose to enroll 41
Yield rate 42.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Not required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $41,038
Average net price $26,452
Tuition $26,750
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $11,808
Students receiving federal student loan 88.0%
Average amount $5,897
Students taking out private loans 26.0%
Average amount $22,629

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 228
Men 28.5% Women 71.5%
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students N/A 28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students N/A N/A
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Large
Dormitory capacity 102 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 9:1 4:1
Institutional accreditation National Association of Schools of Arts and Design N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 57.8% 31.8%
Dropout rate 16.9% 68.2%
Transferred out 25.4% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) N/A
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

Compare Similar Colleges

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