Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 2026 Admission 44%, C

44%

Acceptance Rate

$7,477

Avg.Financial Aid

016021

FAFSA Code

College Search

★ Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) Report Card

Selectivity

C+

44% acceptance rate

Class Size

10:1 student-faculty ratio

Value

B+

$25,850 tuition

Grades calculated by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES data. Methodology: How we grade →

★ Key Facts: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)

Institution: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)
Type: Private not-for-profit

Data compiled by The College Monk from IPEDS/NCES and official university sources. Last verified July 2026. Citable source →

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)

Type Control of Institution - Public/Private
Private, Not-For-Profit
Acceptance Rate:
N/A
Level
4 Years
Religious Affiliation Indicates religious affiliation (denomination) for private not-for-profit institutions that are religiously affiliated.
Not applicable
Accreditation Accreditation is the process by which the quality of learning at various educational institutions are evaluated. Read More.
NASAD
Website
www.pcad.edu
Student Population Number of Students attending College
251
On Campus Housing Does the institution provide on-campus housing?
Yes

PCA&D is where ambitious visual thinkers go to actually become designers, illustrators, and digital artists—not just dream about it. A tiny school near Lancaster with a genuinely talented student body and faculty who are actively working professionals in their fields. You're in critique-heavy studios alongside serious peers, not lecturing in auditoriums.

The school punches above its weight on career outcomes because the network is tight and the portfolio work is portfolios-that-actually-sell caliber. If you want to skip the bloat of a big art school and study under people actively shaping the industry, PCA&D is punchy and real.

Location & Contact

Address

204 N Prince St, Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Contact

Phone: (717) 396-7833

Find Your School

Rankings

The ranking of a particular college helps a student decide where to apply, which is always a tough decision. The ranking of a college is an important parameter by which a prospective student can decide whether they wish to take admission or not. Generally, the ranking of a college is considered a great way to gauge its performance on several factors, which include research excellence, the performance of the students after they complete their education, student experience, and most importantly academic success. The rankings by two well-known publications, US News and Forbes, are considered trustworthy by applicants and academic experts. However, it is to be noted that Pennsylvania College of Art and Design does not feature in the list of top colleges, according to the latest ranking by these publications.

Admissions

Application Deadline Deadline for application submissions. Please contact the school for more details.
Rolling Admissions
Acceptance Rate Percentage of applicants who are accepted in an Institution.
44%
SAT Range
N/A
SAT/ACT
Recommended
ACT Range
N/A
High School GPA
Required
Application Fee
$40
Accept Common App
No

The admissions process is moderately difficult albeit selective in its approach. The admission process starts by filling up the form and submitting a fee of $40. As a general rule of thumb, in order to improve one’s chances of securing admission, a person must score high on a standardised test like SAT or ACT. But, at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design, the average SAT or ACT scores of students securing admission is not available. This points to the fact that scoring high on standardised tests is not an important criterion for this university. As expected, the candidates can complete the process either online or by visiting the school's office at 204 N Prince St, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17608-0059. To gather more information, they can call them at (717) 396-7833.

Full Admission Info Find College Scholarships Request Info

Annual Cost to Attend

Net Price Cost of attendance minus any grants and scholarships received.
$26,283
Average Annual Cost
$24,250

Additional Costs:

Books And Supplies
$38,782
Other Fees
$1,600
Room And Board The charges for an academic year for Rooming accommodations and meals for a typical student.
$10,225
Budget For Other Expenses
$1,167

Total One Year Cost

$38,782

Tuition fees and the cost of living during the course tenure are the next two things that a student should keep in mind before applying to PCAD. The annual full-time cost of attendance comes out to be approximately $39,075. This cost includes the average annual tuition cost ($26,600), books and supplies ($1,568), room and boarding ($10,754), and budget for other expenses ($1,188). If it sounds unaffordable to the applicant, there are numerous financial aid options available that they can explore.

Explore Programs Explore Student Loans Explore Tuition and Cost

Academics

Highest Degree Offered The highest degree offered by the Institution.

Bachelor's degree

Student:Faculty Ratio

10:1

Full-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

80%

Part-Time Retention Rate Percent of the that re-enrolled at the institution as either full- or part-time in the current year.

N/A

Academic Calendar

Semester

Research Funding per Student

N/A

Faculty Overview

45%

Male Professors

55%

Female Professors

Non-traditional Learning

Evening Degree Programs

Teacher Certification

Distance Education

Study Abroad

Majors

Student Body

Undergraduate Students

251

Socio-Economic Diversity Percent of full-time, first-time students receiving an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

40%

Full-time / Part-time

96% / 4%

Students Gender

Male

33%

US National: 44%

Female

67%

US National: 56%

LGBTQIA STUDENT RESOURCE GROUPS

ON CAMPUS WOMEN'S CENTER

Race/Ethnicity

White

73%

Unknown

Black

Hispanic

Two or more races

Non Resident alien

Asian

American Indian/Alaska native

Native Hawaiians/Pacific islander

Geographic Density

High

Unknown Location

22%

Out Of State

78%

In State

Foreign

Economic Diversity

36% percentage of students who recieved an income-based Federal Pell Grant intended for low-income students.

Median Household Income

$68,025 per year

Campus Life

Housing

The students can reside on campus and 36% of Freshman Live On-Campus.

On Campus Housing Available

Yes

Freshmen Required to Live on Campus

Freshmen Live on Campus

36%

Undergrads in College Housing

N/A

Averege Housing Cost

$8,650/year

Campus Food

The institution does not provide any meal plan options.

Meal Plan Available

Average Meal Plan Available

N/A

Athletes

Division Sports Nickname

N/A

School Colors

N/A

Varsity Athletics Association

N/A

Varsity Athletics Conference Primary

Not applicable

Total Male Athletes

N/A

Total Female Athletes

N/A

Intramural Sports

N/A

Sports Club

N/A

Campus Security

The college offers on-campus housing facilities to the students who wish to stay on the campus. A candidate will be needed to pay a normal expense of $10,754 per year for living on campus. There are around 30% male and 70% female students enrolled at the university.

24-Hour Security Patrol

Campus Emergency Phones

24-Hour Escort Safety rides

Mobile Campus Emergency Alert

After Graduation

Median Earnings 6 Years After Graduation

$22,500/year

Median Earnings 10 Years After Graduation

$28,400/year

Typical Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 4.53% interest rate.

N/A - N/A

Outcomes 8 Years of Attending

Show data for students who

and started their studies

Out of 7,811 students

30% Graduated

10% Still Enrolled

15% Transfer

1% Withdraw

Financial Aid

Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid.

99%

Average Aid Per Year

$7,477

Students Receiving Federal Grants

39%

Average Aid Per Year

$4,988

Students Receiving State Aid

48%

Average Aid Per Year

$3,656

Students Receiving Institutional Grants

99%

Average Aid Per Year

$3,706

Average Grant & Scholarship by Family Income Aid awarded based on the family income.

Income

Average Amount

< $30K

$14,728

$30K - $48K

$12,066

$48K - $75K

$7,394

$75K - $110K

$4,249

> $110K

$3,061

The financial aid department of Pennsylvania College of Art and Design helps students by assisting them with scholarships, grants, and student loans in the event that they find the fees and the cost of living at the campus to be expensive. The average federal grant that comes from the college is around $4,866, whereas the financial aid is $4,375. The students at the college are provided with state aid and institutional aid. The state aid stands at $3,585, while the institutional aid is $4,375.

Explore Financial Aid & Scholarships

Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)

How hard is it to get into Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)?

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) is selective, with an acceptance rate of 44%. Strong applicants typically have above-average test scores, a rigorous course load, and compelling extracurricular activities.

How much does Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) cost?

Tuition at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) is approximately $25,850 per year before financial aid. Room, board, fees, and personal expenses add to the total cost of attendance. Most students receive scholarships or financial aid that reduces the net price.

How many students attend Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)?

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) enrolls approximately 251 students across its programs.

What is the student-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)?

The student-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) is 10:1, meaning students typically have good access to faculty for mentoring, research, and smaller class experiences.

Is Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) a public or private university?

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) is a private not-for-profit institution.

When is the application deadline for Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)?

Application deadlines at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) vary by program. Early Decision and Early Action applicants typically submit in November, while Regular Decision deadlines fall in early January. Always check the official admissions website for the current cycle's dates.

Other Colleges In Pennsylvania

Allegheny College

Meadville, Pennsylvania 4 years Private Not-For-Profit

Lafayette College

Easton, Pennsylvania 4 years Private Not-For-Profit

Geneva College

Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 4 years Private Not-For-Profit

View All Colleges in Pennsylvania

Near By Colleges

Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 4 years Private Not-For-Profit

Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 2 years Public

Lancaster Bible College (LBC)

Lancaster, Pennsylvania 4 years Private Not-For-Profit

View all colleges nearby

Other Private not-for-profit Colleges

Maryville University

Maryville University of Saint Louis which is located in St. Louis, MO is a private university offering several courses to the students. It was in 1872 when the Maryville University of Saint Louis was founded. Keeping the pursuit of research, innovation, and excellence at the center, Maryville Univer

Saint Louis, Missouri 4 years Private Not-For-Profit

Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA)

Ultimate Medical Academy also supports the Blackboard Learning Management System (Blackboard LMS) which provides a single access point to the courseroom. To login into UMA’s Blackboard environment also known as ‘The Puma Den’, you need to enter your username and password. The us

Clearwater, Florida 2 years Private Not-For-Profit

Virginia International University (VIU)

Fairfax, Virginia 4 years Private Not-For-Profit

View All Private not-for-profit Colleges

Need Expert College Admissions Guidance?

Our admissions consultants — HEC Paris & UCL alumni — have helped students get into top universities worldwide. Free initial consultation.

Get Free Consultation →

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) — 2026 Profile - Lancaster, Pennsylvania

★ Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D) Report Card

★ Key Facts: Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)

Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (PCA&D)

Location & Contact

Rankings

Admissions

Annual Cost to Attend

Academics

Majors