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Lancaster , PA
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCA&D) is a renowned art school located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Established in 1982, PCA&D has emerged as a leading institution for visual arts education in the region, attracting talented students from across the country. The college is dedicated to providing a comprehensive education that encompasses both the technical skills and theoretical knowledge required for a successful career in the arts.
The curriculum at PCA&D is designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and artistic expression. Students can choose from several Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) programs, including Illustration, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Photography, and Digital Media. These programs offer a balance between traditional techniques and modern technology, allowing students to develop a diverse skill set and explore various mediums.
In addition to hands-on studio courses, PCA&D offers a rich array of liberal arts courses that enhance students' understanding of art history, visual culture, and contemporary issues in the art world. The college also emphasizes professional development and entrepreneurial skills, preparing students for the realities of the art and design industry. With small class sizes and personalized attention from experienced faculty, PCA&D provides a supportive and inspiring environment for students to grow as artists and creators.
Located in Lancaster, PA and set in an urban environment, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is a private four-year college. This school uses a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 99%. The freshman retention rate at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is 85% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.
Quick Facts
414
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$31,309
Tuition
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. Learn some important facts about admission policy and requirements at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.
In 2025, the school accepted 394 new students.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Pennsylvania College of Art & Design was 85%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. You can get a better insight into a school's culture and life by finding out more about its student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the school enrolled 414 students.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 37. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 414, 1 of which were foreign students. 58 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 116 male and 267 female full-time students in 2025, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 19 Asian students and 59 Afro-American students in 2025. 12 undergraduates at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 19 as multirace. The school also had 6 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 35 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $31,309 for all full-time domestic students. Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students reached $2,000 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant financial element. Most students have to spend about $1,650 for books and supplies during their time at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.
Boarding
When choosing a college, you should factor in the price of a dorm room and meals at the school cafeteria. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
At Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, the 2025 annual cost of room and board (on campus) was $15,410. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $8,500 for the 2025 academic year.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 31,309 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,410 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,650 |
| Total Expense | $ 48,369 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial help: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 65 freshmen. Students of this school received an average of $15,422 in financial help.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
212 students received some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need amounted to 212. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $788,061, and state $511,720. The students of Pennsylvania College of Art & Design received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $1,066,808, and external in the amount of $53,350.
$2,475
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
4 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 2 full-time freshmen. The total dollar amount of federal non-need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the studens at this school was $788,061 while the state aid is $3,740. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $69,830. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,306 USD.
Majors
Faculty
9:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design was 9:1: that means 9 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 77.
Campus Life
Not everything at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Check out some details about campus life at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.
Student Organizations
A student organization is run by students at a university or a college institution, whose membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 21 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is Esports and Gaming, followed by Mi Gente and BLAC. Other popular organizations among the students at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design are SIGGRAPH and AIGA.
There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you.
Student Services
At Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.
Career Counselling
There are a job bank and job fairs. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students.
FAQ
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Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is located in Lancaster, PA.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 31,309 USD per academic year for Pennsylvania College of Art & Design.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is 99%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Pennsylvania College of Art & Design is 85%.
Contact Information
Pennsylvania College of Art & Design
204 N. Prince St.
Lancaster , PA
17603
717 396-7833
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.