Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts vs Design Institute of San Diego

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

Admissions: Design Institute of San Diego is more selective with a 87.5% acceptance rate compared to Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts's 87.5%.

Cost: Design Institute of San Diego offers a lower average net price at $31,293, which is $13,729 less than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($45,022). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Design Institute of San Diego earn a median salary of $46,920 ten years after enrollment, which is $17,039 more than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts graduates ($29,881).

Graduation: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts leads with a 58.7% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 83.3% vs 71.4%.

Campus Size: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is the larger campus with 99 total students, while Design Institute of San Diego has 92.

Bottom Line: Design Institute of San Diego stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.