PHILADELPHIA (October 16, 2024) — Moore College of Art & Design (“Moore”) announced today that it welcomed its largest incoming class in the past 35 years for the Fall 2024 semester. The class consists of 143 first-year and 105 transfer students, bringing the total enrollment to 535—a 74% increase in incoming enrollment compared to last Fall.
Prior to the closure of the University of the Arts, Moore was on track to exceed its enrollment targets. Moore remains a financially healthy institution, thanks to an endowment per student that ranks in the top 18% nationally. The College has also boasted an annual budget surplus for the past 23 years. Moore is continuing its historic growth by offering:
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Expanded class sections to accommodate new students while maintaining our 7:1 faculty-to-student ratio
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Additional faculty in Foundation courses, and Illustration and Animation & Game Arts
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New hires in Financial Aid, Academic Support Services, Student Affairs, and Career Services
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New major in Entertainment Design (Fall 2025)
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New minors in Fashion Merchandising and Art Therapy (Fall 2025)
“We are pleased to welcome these new students to Moore, and we are excited for them to experience what we call the Moore Method—small class sizes, individualized attention, career-focused curriculum, and industry-aligned technology. Moore students have always been creative game-changers. Our job is to ensure that they have the resources they need to express their creative talents, explore their artistic practice, and blaze their own pathways,” said Cathy Young, President of Moore College of Art & Design. “Our strong financial position allows us to continuously reinvest in our facilities and technology while focusing on our student’s needs and providing an immersive, career-focused learning environment.”
Following the closure of the University of the Arts (“UArts”), Delaware College of Art and Design (“DCAD”), and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (“PAFA”), Moore faculty and staff worked diligently to provide students with a seamless transition with a “Fast Track to Moore” from open houses to personalized admissions support and 1:1 financial counseling.
“We were heartbroken to learn of the closure of several renowned arts institutions in and around Philadelphia. One of our biggest goals is to make sure that students enrolling at Moore feel like they’ve found a home here,” said Dr. Joshua Wilkin, Dean of Students, Moore College of Art & Design. “We’re excited to see the Moore community grow, and we’re here to support these students on their journey to success.”
As the only independent art and design college in Philadelphia, Moore has welcomed new faculty members from UArts and Delaware College of Art and Design, highlighting the College’s dedication to continuing excellence in art and design education. New faculty members teaching in departments such as Illustration, Animation & Game Arts, and Graphic Design bring years of industry experience to their classrooms.
“Moore’s commitment to academic excellence is highlighted by our outstanding faculty, who work closely with students to provide individualized instruction and prepare them for their future careers,” said Claudine Thomas, Chief Academic Officer, Moore College of Art & Design. “With the addition of faculty members from UArts and DCAD, we will continue to serve our students with the ever-expanding knowledge and expertise that makes a Moore education so valuable.”
About Moore College of Art & Design
Founded during the original Industrial Revolution to advance women in new fields, Moore College of Art & Design is the first and only historically women’s college for art and design. Our mission is more relevant than ever, as technology, sustainability, and diverse cultures drive and disrupt new and existing industries. Through dynamic BFA and co-educational Graduate Studies programs, educational programs for creatively curious youth and professional adult learners, and our public and dedicated space for contemporary art—The Galleries at Moore—we are influencers and advocates for breakthrough artists and designers of all ages and backgrounds. The world needs Moore. For more information about Moore, visit www.moore.edu and follow us on social media @moorecollegeart.
For press inquires, contact:
Gabi Stevenson
Communications Manager, Moore College of Art & Design
gstevenson@moore.edu | 610.551.8231
Michelle Brennan
Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Moore College
mbrennan@moore.edu | 215.209.3514
