Admissions and Eligibility

Application to the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program is an option available to students who have completed 33 credits in residence at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, who have all grades posted to the transcript, and who are in good standing with a GPA of at least 3.0 (B).

If you have completed less than 60 semester credits at PAFA you must have a 3.0 grade point average in your high school and previous undergraduate studies. Applicants must be a high school graduate or have passed the high school equivalency exam or GED (General Educational Development) test with a minimum score of 450.

Although a 3.0 is usually sufficient to warrant serious consideration, it does not guarantee admission. Students with prior coursework in the liberal arts will generally be viewed more favorably. 

Students who have been denied admission to any bachelor’s degree program at the University of Pennsylvania must wait one year before re-applying to the University of Pennsylvania.

Application and deadlines

The first step toward earning your Bachelor of Fine Arts at Penn is completing the online application. Applications for the Bachelor of Fine Arts program are accepted on a rolling basis. Applicants are strongly encouraged to finalize and submit their materials by the priority deadlines.

Regular Admission Deadlines

Term of Entry Deadline
Summer 2024 April 1, 2024
Fall 2024 July 1, 2024
Spring 2025 November 1, 2024

Priority Admission Deadlines

Term of Entry Deadline
Spring 2025 October 1, 2024
Fall 2025 March 1, 2025

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Penn and the arts

From theatre, museums, galleries, and music and dance, arts play a leading role in life on campus.