Pacific Northwest College of Art vs SVA NYC

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) and School of Visual Arts (SVA) stand out as prominent institutions for aspiring artists and designers. While both offer a vibrant creative environment and a strong foundation in the arts, they differ in several key aspects. PNCA, located in Portland, Oregon, boasts a smaller student body and a more intimate learning experience, with an acceptance rate of 75%. SVA, situated in the heart of New York City, attracts a larger and more diverse student population, with an acceptance rate of 50%. Both institutions offer a wide range of programs, but PNCA is known for its strengths in fine arts, while SVA excels in design and technology. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more distinctions between these esteemed art schools and make an informed decision that aligns with your artistic aspirations and personal preferences.
Pacific Northwest College of Art logo

Pacific Northwest College of Art

School of Visual Arts logo

School of Visual Arts

Overview

Location Portland, Oregon New York, New York
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (For Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 59.0% 85.0%
Common app member Yes No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 97.5% 71.3%
Application fees $65
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $80
SAT range N/A 1140 - 1363
ACT range N/A 22 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 14.0%
Students submitting ACT score 3.0%
Total number of applicants 364 4,208
Total number of admissions given out 355 3,000
Admitted students who chose to enroll 64 771
Yield rate 18.0% 25.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $63,974 $74,968
Average net price $36,405 $51,634
Tuition $41,768 $45,000
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $22,027
63.0%
Average amount $16,551
Students receiving federal student loan 70.0%
Average amount $5,333
24.0%
Average amount $5,267
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,860
7.0%
Average amount $32,503

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 397
Men 29.0% Women 71.0%
3,529
Men 27.4% Women 72.6%
Graduate students 84
Men 20.2% Women 79.8%
582
Men 24.9% Women 75.1%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 65.5%
International students 4.2% 53.9%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity 130 1,092
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A New York New Jersey California Florida Pennsylvania

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • English Language and Literature
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Communications Technology
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Communication and Journalism
Students to faculty ratio 10:1 8:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 35.7% 73.9%
Dropout rate 62.9% 13.6%
Transferred out N/A 11.5%
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
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,688
  • Year 2: $68,499
  • Year 3: $79,178
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,823
  • Year 3: $56,128
Computer Software and Media Applications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,114
  • Year 2: $37,568
  • Year 3: $54,214
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $22,489
  • Year 2: $31,567
  • Year 3: $31,458
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,424
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $30,286
Film/Video and Photographic Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,481
  • Year 2: $24,863
  • Year 3: $26,003
Graphic Communications (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $14,518
  • Year 2: $13,132
  • Year 3: $18,637
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $19,405
  • Year 2: $17,489
  • Year 3: $17,701
Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,635
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $37,856
  • Year 3: N/A

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