Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Pratt Institute-Main #1455 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Pratt Institute-Main sits in the 15.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,793, placing the institution in the 38.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Pratt Institute-Main's composite ranking reflects distinctive strengths in creative fields and applied arts. Graduates earn about $12,464 less than similar students at comparable institutions, with median earnings that place the institution above typical outcomes for similar students at comparable institutions.
Azimuth ranks Pratt Institute-Main #1455 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private art and design college in Brooklyn, NY, Pratt Institute-Main enrolls roughly 3,910 undergraduates. Retention is 88.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 73.5%, reflecting the institution's ability to support students through completion in a specialized, project-intensive curriculum. Pratt Institute-Main draws strength from its distinctive focus on visual and performing arts. The institution's dominant program family — Visual & Performing Arts — shapes both the student experience and career outcomes. Azimuth ranks Pratt Institute-Main #998 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,464 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Pratt Institute-Main in the 15.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects how the institution's arts-focused curriculum connects students to creative industries and design-driven careers with sustained earning potential. Access and affordability present trade-offs typical of specialized private institutions. 18.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.3% are first-generation college students. Pratt Institute-Main sits in the 31.2 percentile for access and the 0.4 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's tuition structure reflects its specialized mission and intensive studio-based instruction. For students committed to careers in design, fine arts, architecture, or related creative fields, Pratt Institute-Main offers a focused pathway with demonstrated long-term financial returns relative to the investment required.
Pratt Institute's published cost of attendance is $80,049. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $38,545, middle-income families pay around $48,694, and higher-income families pay approximately $60,477. Azimuth ranks Pratt Institute-Main #1419 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Pratt's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through the FAFSA and institutional merit consideration. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. For families weighing affordability in the context of a specialized arts institution, the net-price figures above provide the baseline; individual circumstances and program choice may shift the actual cost meaningfully. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $88,930; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,793, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Pratt Institute-Main is a strong fit for students drawn to the visual and performing arts who want a private nonprofit experience in Brooklyn, NY. Visual & Performing Arts represents 65% of degrees, anchoring the institution's program mix. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $58,793, placing Pratt Institute-Main in the 38.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,464 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 15.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 18.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 19.3% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the published cost and what families actually pay. Published cost of attendance is $60,477, and median federal debt at graduation is $26,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 73.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors creative and artistic fields over applied-professional ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong outcomes in NY's regional labor market.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Pratt Institute-Main hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Pratt Institute's published cost of attendance is $80,049. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $38,545, middle-income families pay around $48,694, and higher-income families pay approximately $60,477.
Azimuth ranks Pratt Institute-Main #1419 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Pratt's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through the FAFSA and institutional merit consideration. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
For families weighing affordability in the context of a specialized arts institution, the net-price figures above provide the baseline; individual circumstances and program choice may shift the actual cost meaningfully. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $88,930; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $58,793, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Pratt Institute-Main earn median 4-year earnings of $58,793, placing the institution in the 38.9 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $12,464 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Pratt Institute-Main in the 15.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Pratt Institute-Main #998 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Pratt Institute-Main's concentration in visual and performing arts.
Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 273 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $59,792, at 1.2× the national benchmark for the field. The Architectural Sciences and Technology program graduates 123 students earning $84,447, and the The Fine and The Studio Arts program graduates 71 students earning $42,282.
These programs anchor the institution's earnings profile and reflect the strong market demand for Pratt Institute-Main's design and arts-focused graduates in the Brooklyn and New York creative economy.
Architectural Sciences and Technology
123 graduates
Design and Applied Arts
273 graduates
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
64 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
71 graduates
Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies
16 graduates
Pratt Institute-Main's program mix is anchored in visual and performing arts — a signature shaped by the institution's identity as a specialized design and arts college. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 273 graduates, followed by Architectural Sciences and Technology, Fine and Studio Arts, Graphic Communications, and Film/Video and Photographic Arts.
Across 8 total programs, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, reflecting the institution's concentrated focus on creative and design disciplines. The earnings pattern reflects the economics of creative-field careers.
Architectural Sciences and Technology leads with median earnings of $84,447 four years after enrollment, followed by Design and Applied Arts at $59,792, Film/Video and Photographic Arts at $46,874, Fine and Studio Arts at $42,282, and Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies at $39,915. These outcomes reflect the reality that creative-field graduates often begin careers in freelance, portfolio-building, or entry-level studio roles before earnings accelerate in mid-career as professional reputation and client bases grow.
Pratt Institute-Main's program portfolio is characterized by Arts representing 65% of graduates and Education at 1%, underscoring the institution's positioning as a specialized arts and design institution rather than a broad liberal-arts college. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative fields align with labor-market demand, particularly in design, media production, and cultural industries concentrated in major metropolitan areas like New York.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
East Texas Baptist University Similar quality tier (#36235 ranked) | TX | 58% | $52,788 | #36235 | Compare |
Lynn University Similar quality tier (#36242 ranked) | FL | 73% | $49,006 | #36242 | Compare |
Emerson College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36233 ranked) | MA | 51% | $62,832 | #36233 | Compare |
Point University Similar quality tier (#36229 ranked) | GA | 44% | $38,740 | #36229 | Compare |
Sarah Lawrence College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#36243 ranked) | NY | 62% | $53,603 | #36243 | Compare |
