Admit rate has ranged 47%–61% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Moore College of Art and Design is Philadelphia's only women's college for the visual arts, offering an intimate, career-focused education where students dive headfirst into the city's thriving creative scene. With a 56% acceptance rate and a scrappy, hands-on approach, Moore prepares artists and designers to navigate the professional world—though early-career earnings lag behind expectations. Its tight-knit campus on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway provides a safe, supportive base for exploring one of America's great art cities.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
535
In-state tuition
$52,812
Out-of-state tuition
$52,812
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Acceptance Rate
56%
Female Students
87.5%
Average Aid Package
$24,635
BFA Programs Offered
10
Early-Career Earnings
$29,000
6-Year Graduation Rate
54.9%
Undergraduate Enrollment
490
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$37,839
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
0.9×
Median debt at graduation
$26,000
Graduation rate
57%
First-year retention
81%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
61%
Pell (lower-income) share
52%
First-generation share
31%
Endowment / student
$95,781
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Design and Applied Arts$31,314
Fine and Studio Arts$24,267
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$24,035
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
89
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
30°F
Annual rain
49.8"
Annual snow
12.8"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
90
Scholarly works
1,438
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Moore College of Art and Design?
Moore College of Art and Design's acceptance rate is approximately 56% (Philadelphia, PA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Moore College of Art and Design?
Admitted students at Moore College of Art and Design typically score 1180–1380 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Moore College of Art and Design cost?
At Moore College of Art and Design, the average net price (after aid) is about $43,086 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Moore College of Art and Design?
Moore College of Art and Design enrolls approximately 535 undergraduate students.
Where is Moore College of Art and Design located?
Moore College of Art and Design is located in Philadelphia, PA.
Admissions
Moore's admissions process is somewhat selective, with an Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hovering around 56% (sources vary between 56-61%). Applicants must submit 8-12 pieces of recent artwork, and while SAT/ACT scores are considered, they're not required. The college emphasizes portfolio strength over test scores, making it accessible to students with strong artistic potential but uneven academic records. About 870 students are typically admitted annually from a pool of roughly 1,541 applicants. The 6-year graduation rate sits at 54.9% for BFA students, suggesting some attrition among those who struggle with the program's rigor or financial demands.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Moore offers ten BFA programs spanning fine arts (painting, sculpture) and design fields (graphic design, animation). The curriculum emphasizes real-world problem solving, with courses designed to build both technical skills and professional resilience. Reddit reviews note that students should arrive with foundational skills or be prepared to work intensely to develop them. The Princeton Review highlights Moore's mission to empower women in the arts through hands-on expertise and leadership training. Small class sizes foster close mentorship, and the program's urban location provides immediate access to Philadelphia's museums, galleries, and design studios for inspiration and internships.
Life at Moore revolves around its urban campus on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with students describing it as exceptionally safe despite its city location. The college leverages Philadelphia's creative scene heavily—Residence Life staff organize trips to immersive arts events, and the city itself becomes an extension of the classroom. Instagram posts showcase spontaneous studio sessions and visits from working artists. While US News notes limited traditional Greek life or sports, the tight-knit community (just 490 undergraduates, 87.5% female) fosters collaboration over competition. Summer programs like SADI give prospective students a taste of this environment, blending coursework with cultural exploration.
Moore's 4-year graduation rate is 53%, climbing to 63% over six years—middling figures that suggest some students take longer to complete their degrees or transfer out. Early-career earnings are disappointing for an art school, averaging just $29,000 annually (about $6,000 below expectations per CollegeFactual). However, the college emphasizes non-monetary outcomes like professional networks and creative resilience. US News reports that most graduates borrow loans, though specific debt figures aren't published. The upside? Moore's Philadelphia location provides direct pipelines to internships and freelance opportunities that may pay off later in careers.
Moore's net price after aid averages $44,371, with 100% of full-time undergraduates receiving some form of grant or scholarship (averaging $24,635). The college offers a Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. Calculator to estimate individualized costs, noting that families earning over $110K can expect to pay around $51,868. While aid is generous, the high sticker price and modest post-graduation earnings create a value proposition that demands careful consideration—especially for students who may need to borrow. BigFuture data suggests most aid comes from institutional grants rather than federal loans, which could reduce long-term debt burdens.
Moore's singularity lies in its dual identity as Philadelphia's only women's art college and an urban creative incubator. Unlike larger art schools, it offers a no-distractions environment where women build confidence without competing for attention. The curriculum's relentless practicality—from professional practices courses to mandatory internships—prepares students for the hustle of creative careers. And while outcomes data is mixed, Moore's location is unbeatable: students can sketch at the Barnes Foundation in the morning, intern at a design firm in the afternoon, and exhibit work in Old City galleries by evening. For artists who thrive on independence and urban energy, Moore provides both structure and access.
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