Pennsylvania College of Art and Design vs SVA NYC
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCAD) and School of Visual Arts (SVA) stand out as prominent institutions dedicated to nurturing artistic talent. While both share a commitment to excellence in art education, they offer distinct experiences. PCAD, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, boasts a smaller student body, fostering a close-knit community. In contrast, SVA, situated in the heart of New York City, offers a vibrant urban setting and a larger, more diverse student population. With acceptance rates of 85% and 48%, respectively, PCAD offers a more accessible path to admission, while SVA's rigorous admissions process ensures a highly selective cohort. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to delve into further details on these institutions, including popular majors, graduation rates, and additional factors that may influence your decision.
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![]() Pennsylvania College of Art and Design |
![]() School of Visual Arts |
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Overview |
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Location | Lancaster, Pennsylvania | New York, New York |
Campus setting | City: Small | City: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (For Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 75.0% | 85.0% |
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Yes | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 51.3% | 71.3% |
Application fees | $40 |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$80
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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 | 187 | 4,208 |
Total number of admissions given out | 96 | 3,000 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 41 | 771 |
Yield rate | 42.7% | 25.7% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $41,038 | $74,968 |
Average net price | $26,452 | $51,634 |
Tuition | $26,750 | $45,000 |
Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $11,808 |
63.0%
Average amount $16,551 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
88.0%
Average amount $5,897 |
24.0%
Average amount $5,267 |
Students taking out private loans |
26.0%
Average amount $22,629 |
7.0%
Average amount $32,503 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
228
Men 28.5% Women 71.5% |
3,529
Men 27.4% Women 72.6% |
Graduate students | N/A |
582
Men 24.9% Women 75.1% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Moderate
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 65.5% |
International students | N/A | 53.9% |
Campus local/setting | City: Small | City: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 102 | 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 |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 9:1 | 8:1 |
Institutional accreditation | National Association of Schools of Arts and Design | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 57.8% | 73.9% |
Dropout rate | 16.9% | 13.6% |
Transferred out | 25.4% | 11.5% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) | N/A |
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Master's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
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