Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Lancaster, PA 17603-0059
About Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private university in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 400 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 99.24% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $33,301 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Pennsylvania College of Art and Design charges 10% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($32,150).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 65% above.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 68.52%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $33,301.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania College of Art and Design | $32,150 | $30,083 | 1 |
| Private Non-profit (national median) | $29,325 | — | 1,444 |
| Pennsylvania (state median) | $19,450 | $17,754 | 181 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| 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 6% below published tuition at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Key findings
- Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's average net price ($30,083) is 6% below published tuition ($32,150).
- Pennsylvania College of Art and Design charges 10% above the national private non-profit median tuition ($32,150).
- Versus the Pennsylvania median, sticker tuition is 65% above.
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $32,150
Finding Pennsylvania College of Art and Design charges 10% above the national private non-profit median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $32,150. That is 10% above the national private non-profit median ($29,325). Versus the Pennsylvania median ($19,450), sticker tuition is 65% above. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 2.7×.
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 College of Art and Design versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is $30,083.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $30,083 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $12,330 above the Pennsylvania median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $15,112 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 College of Art and Design’s published tuition substantially overstates typical undergraduate cost: average net price is about 6% lower after grants and scholarships.
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design—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
$32,150
Avg. net price
$30,083
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $24,547 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $24,115 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $26,576 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $30,876 |
| $110,001+ | $37,851 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $128,600. 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 College of Art and Design is known for
Top program completions
- 05.004124
- Design and Applied Arts, Other18
- Graphic Design14
- Game and Interactive Media Design10
- Fine/Studio Arts, General7
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 31% of admitted students enrolled.
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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 College of Art and Design.
Campus
Location
Lancaster, PA
City / state
- ZIP
- 17603-0059
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is about 2.0× the median for Town campuses ($14,971 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
400
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 432
- Full-time share
- 96%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$27,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 47.37%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
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 College of Art and Design 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 College of Art and Design 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 | $20,680 | $20,680 | $24,304 |
| 2014 | $22,000 | $22,000 | $23,500 |
| 2015 | $22,800 | $22,800 | $23,858 |
| 2016 | $23,800 | $23,800 | $24,266 |
| 2017 | $25,000 | $25,000 | $26,250 |
| 2018 | $25,850 | $25,850 | $25,966 |
| 2019 | $26,600 | $26,600 | $26,407 |
| 2020 | $27,650 | $27,650 | $27,791 |
| 2021 | $28,450 | $28,450 | $25,806 |
| 2022 | $29,450 | $29,450 | $25,585 |
| 2023 | $31,370 | $31,370 | $29,266 |
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 College of Art and Design reported total enrollment of about 400 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 32% male and 68% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (61.8%), Black or African American (14.8%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (8.8%). About 47.37% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
95.8% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in 2024 is 400 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 432 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
85.1%
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
66.67% 100% Completion Time
68.52% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 66.67% of students graduating from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- 05.0041: 25% male / 75% female
- Design and Applied Arts, Other: 28% male / 72% female
- Graphic Design: 57% male / 43% 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 College of Art and Design graduates earn a median of $33,301 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $33,301. Median federal loan debt: $27,000. Average net price used in cost models: $30,083.
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 College of Art and Design graduates report median earnings of $33,301 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 College of Art and Design.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 8 programs by IPEDS completions (9 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$3M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Pennsylvania median 0.06× the median ($47.9M)
- Mid East median 0.07× the median ($42.6M)
- U.S. median 0.11× the median ($26.4M)
- Pennsylvania median 0.51× the median ($24,897)
- Mid East median 0.77× the median ($16,427)
- U.S. median near the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 23.8%
- Pennsylvania median 39.4 pp below median (63.1%)
- Mid East median 33.1 pp below median (56.9%)
- U.S. median 34.2 pp below median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $4,574
- Pennsylvania median 0.57× the median ($8,003)
- Mid East median 0.56× the median ($8,119)
- U.S. median 0.60× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $8,279
- Pennsylvania median near the median ($8,615)
- Mid East median 0.90× the median ($9,164)
- U.S. median 1.1× 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 College of Art and Design at a glance
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private non-profit institution in Lancaster, PA, classified as Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting).
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- 05.0041Design and Applied Arts, OtherGraphic Design
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian61.8%Black or African American14.8%Race/ethnicity unknown8.8%
Schools near Pennsylvania College of Art and Design
Other campuses in Lancaster, PA when available, plus nearby institutions in Pennsylvania.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Pennsylvania, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design located?
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is located in Lancaster, PA.
What is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is 99.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 677 applicants and 311 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's tuition?
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $32,150 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $30,083 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Pennsylvania College of Art and Design cost?
Reported tuition is $32,150 and average net price is $30,083 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,230 annually.
Why is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's net price so much lower than tuition?
At Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, published tuition is $32,150 while average net price is $30,083—about 6% 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 College of Art and Design's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($30,083), completion (68.5% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($33,301). 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 College of Art and Design?
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design reports undergraduate enrollment of about 432 students, White (61.8%), Black or African American (14.8%) in federal College Scorecard data.
What do graduates of Pennsylvania College of Art and Design earn?
Median earnings are $23,638 six years after entry and $33,301 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design?
The 150%-time completion rate is 68.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design public or private?
Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private nonprofit institution located in Lancaster, PA.
Is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design an HBCU?
No. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 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.