Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Philadelphia, PA 19102-1510
About Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 23 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 87.50% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $29,881 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts charges 52% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($44,600).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 2.3×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 57.58%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $29,881.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | $44,600 | $42,454 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| Urban (City) (locale median) | $15,200 | $20,053 | 1,346 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
Average net price is 5% below published tuition at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Key findings
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's average net price ($42,454) is 5% below published tuition ($44,600).
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts charges 52% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($44,600).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is about 2.3×.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $44,600
Finding Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts charges 52% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $44,600. That is 52% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is about 2.3×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 3.7×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to private non-profit and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is $42,454.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $42,454 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $24,700 above the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus urban (city) campuses, net price runs $22,401 above the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 5% lower after grants and scholarships.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
Annual tuition
$44,600
Avg. net price
$42,454
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $39,928 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $42,301 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $42,893 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $44,893 |
| $110,001+ | $46,702 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $178,400. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is known for
Top program completions
- Fine/Studio Arts, General25
- 05.004111
- Painting11
- Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects4
- Sculpture2
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 11% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Campus
Location
Philadelphia, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 19102-1510
- NCES locale
- City
Compared with Urban (City) campuses nationally, net price is about 2.1× the median for Urban (City) campuses ($20,053 median).
Control
Institution type
Private Non-profit
Control
- Region
- Mid East
- Carnegie
- Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)
Size
Enrollment
23
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 25
- Graduate
- 16
- Full-time share
- 87%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$22,309
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 35.35%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $30,380 | $30,380 | $28,679 |
| 2014 | $32,695 | $32,695 | $31,173 |
| 2015 | $34,410 | $34,410 | $35,312 |
| 2016 | $36,058 | $36,058 | $36,058 |
| 2017 | $37,096 | $37,096 | $36,790 |
| 2018 | $38,878 | $38,878 | $38,942 |
| 2019 | $40,376 | $40,376 | $26,284 |
| 2020 | $40,376 | $40,376 | $42,767 |
| 2021 | $40,376 | $40,376 | $28,479 |
| 2022 | $42,100 | $42,100 | $56,164 |
| 2023 | $44,600 | $44,600 | $45,022 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts reported total enrollment of about 23 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 30% male and 70% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (56.5%), Hispanic or Latino (13.0%), and Two or More Races (13.0%). About 35.35% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
87.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2024 is 23 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 25 students. Graduate enrollment is about 16 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
0.0%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
45.45% 100% Completion Time
57.58% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 45.45% of students graduating from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Fine/Studio Arts, General: 32% male / 68% female
- 05.0041: 27% male / 73% female
- Painting: 27% male / 73% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates earn a median of $29,881 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $29,881. Median federal loan debt: $22,309. Average net price used in cost models: $42,454.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates report median earnings of $29,881 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 6 programs by IPEDS completions (7 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$42.7M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Pennsylvania median 0.89× the median ($47.9M)
- Mid East median near the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 1.6× the median ($26.4M)
- Pennsylvania median 11× the median ($24,897)
- Mid East median 17× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median 23× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 87.5%
- Pennsylvania median 24.4 pp above median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 30.6 pp above median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 29.5 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $4,469
- Pennsylvania median 0.56× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 0.55× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 0.59× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $21,577
- Pennsylvania median 2.5× the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 2.4× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 3.0× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts at a glance
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private non-profit institution in Philadelphia, PA, classified as Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Fine/Studio Arts, General05.0041Painting
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian56.5%Hispanic or Latino13.0%Two or More Races13.0%
Schools near Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Other campuses in Philadelphia, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade F) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts located?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is located in Philadelphia, PA.
What is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is 87.5% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 192 applicants and 168 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's tuition?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $44,600 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $42,454 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts cost?
Reported tuition is $44,600 and average net price is $42,454 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $18,662 annually.
Why is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, published tuition is $44,600 while average net price is $42,454—about 5% lower. Average net price subtracts grant and scholarship aid from cost of attendance for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid (College Scorecard). Institutional aid therefore compresses sticker price into a lower typical undergraduate cost signal. The campus average still masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average. EDsmart Data treats the sticker–net gap as an analytical finding, not advice about individual aid offers.
What explains Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($42,454), completion (57.6% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($29,881). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts reports undergraduate enrollment of about 25 students, White (56.5%), Hispanic or Latino (13.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts earn?
Median earnings are $24,229 six years after entry and $29,881 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?
The 150%-time completion rate is 57.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $22,309.
Is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts public or private?
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in Philadelphia, PA.
Is Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts an HBCU?
No. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.