AIC vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare American International College in Springfield, MA with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

American International College is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (2,037 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American International College is located in Springfield, MA (Midsize City setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• American International College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American International College 16:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

AIC vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AIC or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American International College than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($23,086 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American International College are 2.8% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($16,750 vs. $17,230).
• American International College is 37.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $12,080 more per year; $44,230.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.6% higher at AIC than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $12,080 more per year; $44,230.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at American International College as at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American International College students is 141.4% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($36,184 vs. $14,989).

AIC vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AIC or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and AIC.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American International College 940/1110.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AIC - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: AIC Sep 7, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.13) than students at AIC (2.91).
• AIC has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (99.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at AIC vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

AIC vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AIC and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than American International College's (36%).
• Graduates from American International College earn a median of about $17,700 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,400 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and AIC graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and AIC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AIC students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.