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School of Visual Arts

SVA

New York, New York 10010

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

UrbanInternational

Known for computer science

School of Visual Arts is a private urban institution in New York, New York. The school is accessible to a wide range of students, with an average SAT of 1337.

A mid-sized campus of 3.4K undergraduates with a 8:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

75% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $46,459 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $58,628.

Established
1947
Type
Private for-profit art school

Campus Visits

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91%Acceptance
1337SAT Avg
3,432Students
8:1Student:Faculty
75%Grad Rate
$46,459Earnings 10yr
$58,628Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate91.3%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1337

Reading & WritingMid: 630
585725
MathMid: 622
580725

ACT Score Range

CompositeMid: 26
2131

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Financial Aid

Pell Grant eligible
15%
First-generation
26%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$49,140
Room & Board$24,200
Books & Supplies$1,868
Total Cost of Attendance$75,016
Average Net Price$58,628
Median Debt at Graduation$27,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$286

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$51,786
$30–48K$56,500
$48–75K$57,116
$75–110K$63,333
$110K+$63,857

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

75.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

5.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$22,000

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

26

Peer Average

37

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus police, emergency alert system, blue-light phones

Incident Breakdown (2024)

7

Burglary

1

Aggravated Assault

1

Robbery

2

Motor Vehicle Theft

3

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

7

Drug Arrests

5

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Academics

Student-faculty ratio
8:1

Programs (17)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

88%

Positive

Student Body

Undergrads
3,432
Gender Split
74% / 26%
Women / Men
First Generation
26%
Pell Grant Recipients
15%

Race & Ethnicity

White 14%
Black 3%
Hispanic 9%
Asian 15%
Two+ 1%
Int'l 52%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate74.9%
Freshman Retention88.1%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$31,855
10 Years$46,459

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • It was renamed the School of Visual Arts in 1956 and offered its first degrees in 1972.
  • In 1983, it introduced a Master of Fine Arts in painting, drawing and sculpture.
  • In 2024, the intersection of 23rd Street and 3rd Avenue was co-named SVA Way to recognize the school's institutional presence in the neighborhood since 1960.
  • On September 1, 2025, ownership of the school transitioned from the Rhodes family to the SVA Alumni Society.
  • This was part of a plan which began in 2019 as the school began the process of converting to a nonprofit organization; the SVA alumni organization is already an IRS tax-exempt entity.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

160Very High

Estimated from NY state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

New Yorkpop. 8.3M
2 mi(3 min)
Philadelphiapop. 1.6M
83 mi(144 min)
Bostonpop. 675K
188 mi(326 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

LGA New York LaGuardia6 mi
EWR Newark Liberty11 mi
JFK New York JFK13 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA188 mi · ~5h 26m drive
New York, NY2 mi · ~3 min drive
Hartford, CT98 mi · ~2h 50m drive
Providence, RI153 mi · ~4h 25m drive
Albany, NY133 mi · ~3h 51m drive
Syracuse, NY195 mi · ~5h 38m drive
Rochester, NY250 mi · ~7h 13m drive
Buffalo, NY292 mi · ~8h 26m drive
Philadelphia, PA83 mi · ~2h 24m drive
Pittsburgh, PA316 mi · ~9h 8m drive
Harrisburg, PA156 mi · ~4h 30m drive
Newark, NJ10 mi · ~17 min drive
Trenton, NJ54 mi · ~1h 34m drive
Southern (moderate winters, warm summers)

Deadline Calendar

School of Visual Arts Application Checklist

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