Pacific Northwest College of Art vs San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI)

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) and San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) stand as prominent institutions in the realm of art education, each offering unique experiences and opportunities for aspiring artists. While both colleges share a commitment to fostering creativity and artistic expression, they differ in several key aspects. PNCA boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students seeking an art education. SFAI, on the other hand, has a lower acceptance rate, indicating a more selective admissions process. Additionally, the two colleges vary in their popular majors, with PNCA offering programs in visual studies, art history, and graphic design, while SFAI focuses on fine arts, photography, and new media. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve deeper into the differences between these two esteemed art colleges, considering factors such as student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to find the institution that best aligns with your artistic aspirations and educational goals.
Pacific Northwest College of Art logo

Pacific Northwest College of Art

San Francisco Art Institute logo

San Francisco Art Institute

Overview

Location Portland, Oregon San Francisco, California
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 59.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 97.5% 94.7%
Application fees $65
Undergraduate: $75

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 364 169
Total number of admissions given out 355 160
Admitted students who chose to enroll 64
Yield rate 18.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A
High school GPA Required N/A
Recommendation letters Not required N/A
High school transcript Not required N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $63,974
Average net price $36,405
Tuition $41,768
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $22,027
Students receiving federal student loan 70.0%
Average amount $5,333
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,860

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 397
Men 29.0% Women 71.0%
42
Men 50.0% Women 50.0%
Graduate students 84
Men 20.2% Women 79.8%
28
Men 32.1% Women 67.9%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students 4.2% N/A
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 130 N/A
First year students are required to live on campus? No N/A
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • English Language and Literature
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 4:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities N/A

Outcome

Graduation rate 35.7% 31.8%
Dropout rate 62.9% 68.2%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,658
  • Year 3: $39,482
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,535
  • Year 2: $27,494
  • Year 3: $31,458
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,540
  • Year 2: $32,029
  • Year 3: $30,660
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,687
  • Year 2: $19,835
  • Year 3: $27,584
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $27,765
  • Year 3: N/A
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $32,786
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,309
  • Year 2: $30,119
  • Year 3: $30,264
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,116
  • Year 2: $28,381
  • Year 3: $29,237
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,494
  • Year 2: $22,420
  • Year 3: $16,882
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $16,008
  • Year 3: N/A

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