Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Private · PA

Photo: Difference engine (CC BY-SA 4.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationPA · Northeast

SettingUrban

Undergrads23

Student:faculty2:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate45.5%

6-yr grad rate57.6%

Drop-out rate100%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$45k

Out-of-state tuition$45k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity43.5%

Gender diversity69.6%

International8.7%

Identity—

Overview

The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in Philadelphia, is the oldest art museum and school in the United States, founded in 1805. Its history runs through two centuries of American art, with alumni and faculty counting among the country's most significant painters and sculptors, and its museum holds a major collection of American art alongside the school's studio programs. In recent years PAFA has restructured away from traditional degree-granting undergraduate and graduate programs toward certificate and continuing-education offerings, so its current academic structure looks different from its historical identity as a full art college.

Academics

Historically, PAFA's training emphasized rigorous, traditional studio fundamentals, drawing from cast and life, painting, and sculpture, in a way that set it apart from more conceptually driven contemporary art programs. That emphasis on draftsmanship and observational skill remains part of its institutional identity even as its degree offerings have narrowed. Students considering PAFA today should confirm exactly what credential, if any, a given program of interest currently leads to.

Worth knowing

The school occupies a landmark building designed by Frank Furness, one of the most significant works of Victorian-era American architecture, and its museum function means the school and a major public art collection share the same institution. Its recent shift away from conferring its own degrees is a significant change from its historical role and worth understanding before applying.

pafa.org ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate—

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters—

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Applying