Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Admissions

Interested in attending Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?

On this page, you'll learn how difficult it is to get into Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, we'll dig into high school grades and test scores, and you'll find out the factors the school considers when reviewing applications.

85
%
Acceptance rate
February 15
Regular admission deadline
Test Blind
Testing

Admission Rates

Is it difficult to get into Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?

85%

Using the most up-to-date data on record, PAFA accepted 85% of applicants. We classify this as less selective.

In the most recent year, 172 people applied and 173 were accepted.

Applied/Accepted
Women
125 / 138 (91%)
Men
27 / 34 (79%)

Acceptance rates at colleges can change over time, with some becoming more competitive and others accepting more students. Here’s a look at the acceptance rate trend for the past 3 years at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts:

100%
92.0
84.0
76.0
68.0
60.0
2022
2023
2024

Acceptance rates at schools can vary depending on if the student is in-state, out-of-state, or international.

11%
Enrollment of those accepted
Low
Yield rate

Of those accepted, 11% ended up enrolling at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, making their yield rate Low. The yield rate is the percentage of accepted students who enroll at the school. You can use the yield rate to find out how coveted a school is for the students who apply to it.

Application Factors

You can increase your chances of getting into Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts by looking at what the school considers during the application process.

Here are the things PAFA considers:

Very Important

  • Application Essay
  • Recommendation(s)
  • Talent/Ability

Important

  • Academic GPA
  • Level of Applicant's Interest
  • Rigor of Secondary School Record

Considered

  • Alumni/AE Relation
  • Character/Personal Qualities

Not Considered

  • Class Rank
  • Extracurricular Activities
  • First Generation
  • Geographical Residence
  • Religious Affiliation/Commitment
  • Standardized Test Scores
  • State Residency
  • Volunteer Work
  • Work Experience

Grades & Testing

Do you have the grades and test scores to get into Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts?

Test Blind
Testing

Grades

PAFA is Test Blind. This means the school does consider test scores when making admission decisions, even if they are submitted.

Application Deadlines

These are the deadlines for applying to Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Application deadlines are subject to change, so please verify all deadlines with the school.

Regular Admissions

February 15
Regular admission deadline

Early Decision

Early Decision is a program in which students commit to attend a school if they are accepted. Some schools have a higher acceptance rate for Early Decision than regular decision. PAFA's Early Decision acceptance rate is 100%, compared to 85% overall. If you’re sure you want to attend Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, you might consider applying Early Decision.

November 15
Applications Due
100%
Early Decision Acceptance Rate

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