Graduate Admissions

"I chose PAFA because of how experimental and explorative the program is. The faculty push you to try new things and really get to the seed of your work and practice." –Marley Massey Parsons (MFA '22)

Select your preferred application:

2023 MFA APPLICATION

2023 LOW-RES MFA APPLICATION

2023 POST-BAC APPLICATION

There is an application fee of $60 which is paid online when submitting your application. PAFA does accept fee waivers from the CollegeBoard, NACAC, and School Lunch Program. Students experiencing financial hardship can request a fee waiver by contacting the Admissions Office.

* Applications are open and scholarships are still available *

A bachelor’s degree is required for the MFA, Low-Residency, and Post-Baccalaureate programs at PAFA. Transcripts must show proof of an undergraduate degree, or degree in progress for those currently enrolled.

Official transcripts are required for each applicant, as they convey the academic history and serve as proof of eligibility. Transcripts must be sent directly from an applicant’s academic institution to be considered official.

Applicants currently enrolled in an undergraduate program should submit official transcripts with their courses in progress for their initial application. If accepted, PAFA will require official, final transcripts upon graduation.

If your academic credentials are not written in English, they must be translated into English by an approved translator prior to submission.

Electronic Transcripts

PAFA accepts electronic transcripts via eSCRIP-SAFE, Liaison, Naviance, Parchment, Student Clearing House, and other verified transcript servicers. Electronic transcripts may also be emailed to admissions@pafa.edu from the institution you attended.

Physical/Hardcopy Transcripts

Physical copies of transcripts may be mailed to the following address:

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Office of Admissions
128 North Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Admission to PAFA is contingent on the submission of your creative work through a portfolio. Portfolios consisting of 20 images must be submitted through SlideRoom. It is up to each applicant to choose works that best exemplify their skills, concepts, and ambition. Refer to PAFA’s Graduate Portfolio Guidelines for advice on how to select, prepare, and submit your work.

For good image quality and fast upload, we recommend all portfolio images are saved in JPEG format (.jpg).

When uploading your work, please include the following information for each piece of work—SlideRoom will prompt you to fill this information out as you go along:

• Title
• Medium
• Size
• Year

Applicants are required to submit a 1-2 page Statement of Purpose essay (250-650 words, double-spaced), which gives framework and explanation to the submitted Portfolio and outlines their interests in pursuing graduate studies at PAFA.

The Statement of Purpose must be saved as a Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) or Portable Document File (.pdf), and uploaded through the Admissions Portal prior to submitting the application. PAFA does not accept any other file formats for the Statement of Purpose.

One (1) letter of recommendation is required. This letter should come from an individual who is familiar with your abilities, such as teachers, mentors, guidance counselors, and employers. Applicants can send requests to their recommender(s) through the Admissions Portal.

Students are required to submit official language proficiency scores if their primary language is not English. PAFA accepts scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Duolingo English Test.

Submitting a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) is recommended. It is a helpful way to describe life experiences, exhibition history, and publications. These may be especially helpful for applicants who have been out of school for some time. Resumes and CVs may be submitted online through the Admissions Portal.