California Northstate University vs Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

California Northstate University and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: California Northstate University is more selective with a 84.8% acceptance rate compared to Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's 87.5%.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts earn a median salary of $29,881 ten years after enrollment, which is $29,881 more than California Northstate University graduates ($0).

Graduation: California Northstate University leads with a 82.8% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 90.0% vs 83.3%.

Campus Size: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the larger campus with 99 total students, while California Northstate University has 69.

Bottom Line: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.