Pratt Institute-Main
Brooklyn, New York · Private Nonprofit · 73.3% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 41/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Pratt Institute scores ROI 41 (Below Benchmark) - a Brooklyn-based art and design school where the design pipeline pays and the fine arts pipeline does not. Three of the top five programs by graduate count carry F-grade ROI: Fine Arts ($18,451 year-one earnings against $27,000 debt), Film/Video ($16,710 year-one against $27,000 debt), and Graphic Communications ($20,048 year-one against $26,724 debt). The standout exception is Architectural Sciences (129 graduates, $58,246 year-one, $84,447 four-year) which carries C+ grade ROI and a 0.532 debt-to-earnings ratio. At an average net price of $52,659/year, aid does little to reshape the picture: low-income families still pay $38,545/year. The 73.5% completion rate is acceptable. The fundamental tension here: Pratt's reputation in design and architecture is real, but the earnings data shows that students entering fine arts, photography, or writing pathways at Pratt's price will struggle for over 18 years to recoup the investment.
How Pratt Institute-Main scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score41/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period18.2 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Pratt Institute-Main
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $61,845/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $61,845/yr |
| Average net price | $52,659/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $210,636 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $54,295 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $40,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $276 |
| Estimated payback period | 18.2 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 73.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 3,910 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $61,845/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $52,659/year, or roughly $210,636 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $38,545/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $60,477/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $26,000, which works out to about $276 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($40,200) and comes to 0.65, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $38,545 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $44,439 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $48,694 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $59,020 |
| $110,001+ | $60,477 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $38,545 per year - over four years, that is roughly $154,180 in total cost. Even with maximum Pell ($7,395/year) and aid stack, low-income students at Pratt face a debt load that pushes graduates with fine arts or film majors into negative-ROI territory. For low-income students whose work is grounded in the Architectural Sciences or design tracks, the math can still work; for students drawn to fine arts or film, the loan exposure becomes a multi-decade weight.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families pay $48,694 (48-75k bracket) to $59,020 (75-110k bracket) per year. The slope is steep: aid falls off quickly as income rises, and Pratt's net price approaches $60,000/year for upper-middle-income families. Over four years, that is $200,000-240,000 in total cost. This price point requires either substantial family contribution or a high-conviction commitment to a creative career path that can absorb 15+ year payback periods.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $60,477/year, or roughly $242,000 over four years. This is full-freight territory. Whether the price is justified depends entirely on which Pratt program the student enters. Architectural Sciences graduates can credibly recoup this investment over a 30-year career. Fine Arts, Film, and Graphic Communications graduates statistically cannot. High-income families should consider whether the same student could enter a less expensive design program with a substantially smaller cost basis and equivalent career outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 7 most popular majors at Pratt Institute-Main with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts | $59,792 | D |
| Architectural Sciences and Technology | $84,447 | C+ |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $42,282 | F |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $46,874 | F |
| Graphic Communications | $35,100 | F |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | $39,915 | F |
| Architecture | $78,206 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Design and Applied Arts
The largest program at Pratt by graduates (369), Design and Applied Arts shows year-one earnings of $36,040 climbing to $59,792 by year four. The 0.721 debt-to-earnings ratio (D-grade) indicates that students leave with $26,000 in debt against modest starting salaries. The four-year jump to $59,792 reflects that design careers compound: junior roles in industrial design, UX, packaging, and product design pay below the four-year median initially, but mid-career compensation moves substantially. Graduates land at design firms and in-house design teams across NYC, where Pratt's brand carries weight. The risk: students who don't break into a paying design role within the first 12-18 months can stall at the year-one earnings level.
Architectural Sciences and Technology
Architecture is Pratt's clearest positive-ROI track: 129 graduates earning $58,246 at year one and $84,447 at year four, with a 0.532 debt-to-earnings ratio (C+ grade). NYC architecture firms are the obvious destination, and the 5-year B.Arch pipeline (vs the standard 4-year degree) explains both the higher debt load ($31,000) and the stronger earnings position. Students complete licensing exam prerequisites during school. The earnings trajectory suggests most graduates clear the path to licensed architect within their first 5-7 years, where compensation accelerates further.
Fine and Studio Arts
97 graduates earn a median $18,451 in year one against $27,000 in debt - a 1.463 debt-to-earnings ratio that earns an F grade. The four-year figure ($42,282) shows some recovery. Students considering this program at Pratt's price tag should plan for a long earnings ramp and have a backup income strategy. Loan-financing this degree at $52,659/year carries significant downside risk.
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
Film/Video shows 70 graduates with $16,710 year-one earnings and $27,000 debt - a 1.616 debt-to-earnings ratio, the worst F-grade outcome in Pratt's reported programs. Year-four earnings of $46,874 indicate substantial earnings growth, but the gap between debt obligations and starting income leaves graduates in tight cash flow for years. The NYC film and photography market is intensely competitive with significant unpaid or low-paid early-career work.
Graphic Communications
56 graduates with $20,048 year-one earnings, $26,724 debt, and a 1.333 debt-to-earnings ratio (F grade). Graphic communications and design positions in NYC have been hit by a combination of in-house design team consolidation and AI-assisted design tools compressing entry-level wages. Year-four earnings of $35,100 show continued slow recovery.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.7% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 82.0% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 78.3% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.6% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Pratt Institute-Main’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.3% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 560-690 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 590-700 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-31 |
| Enrollment | 3,910 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 18.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $12,587 |
Pratt admits 73.3% of applicants - moderately selective, with portfolio review carrying as much weight as test scores. SAT Math 560-690, SAT Reading 590-700, ACT 26-31. The selectivity is mission-aligned rather than academically gatekept: the school is filtering for creative ability, not just GPA. Strong portfolios can offset weaker test scores. Students applying without a developed creative body of work face long odds regardless of test profile.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Pratt's payback is 18.2 years.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pratt Institute-Main (this school) | 41 | $52,659 | $54,295 |
| Newschool of Architecture and Design | 38 | $52,570 | $68,891 |
| Otis College of Art and Design | 36 | $51,248 | $58,152 |
| College for Creative Studies | 30 | $34,617 | $44,860 |
| School of Visual Arts | 30 | $57,914 | $46,459 |
| Maryland Institute College of Art | 29 | $42,729 | $45,212 |
Who Thrives Here
Pratt admits 73.3% of applicants with SAT Math 560-690 and ACT 26-31 - academically capable students with portfolios. The 19% Pell rate is low, signaling a predominantly higher-income student body who can absorb the $52,659/year sticker. Students who thrive here come with two profiles: those entering Architectural Sciences or Industrial Design who can map their training to a clear career trajectory, and those whose families can fully fund a fine arts education without expecting tuition to be recouped through earnings.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Pratt Institute-Main scores 41/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $52,659 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $54,295 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 18.2 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What it has going for it: its 73.5% graduation rate, high loan repayment success. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a long payback period.
Median debt of $26,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $40,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Pratt Institute-Main: Common Questions
Is Pratt Institute-Main worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Pratt Institute-Main scores 41/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $52,659 a year after aid against $54,295 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 18.2 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Pratt Institute-Main cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $52,659 a year, or roughly $210,636 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Pratt Institute-Main graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $54,295 ten years after enrolling, roughly $12,495 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Pratt Institute-Main?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 18.2 years for Pratt Institute-Main. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Pratt Institute-Main graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $26,000, against average earnings of $40,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Pratt Institute-Main?
The six-year graduation rate is 73.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.