Moore College of Art and Design

What Moore College of Art and Design does

Moore College of Art and Design is a private, nonprofit art and design college headquartered on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1848 as the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, it is the only historically women's art and design college in the United States. The institution offers 10 BFA undergraduate majors — Animation & Game Arts, Art Education, Entertainment Design (launched Fall 2025), Fashion Design, Film & Digital Cinema, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, and Photography — along with a Master's in Art Education with an Emphasis in Inclusive Practices, a Post-Baccalaureate program, youth programs (Summer Art & Design Institute, Young Artists Workshop), and adult continuing education certificate courses. Technology provided to all enrolled students includes Adobe Creative Cloud and Office 365, with Apple computers recommended.

The business model is tuition-driven across four customer segments: undergraduate BFA, graduate, youth pre-college, and adult continuing education. The most differentiated element is a guaranteed $1,000 paid internship in every major for every student, supported by the Locks Career Center which provides lifelong career services, resume building, and alumni mentoring. The college is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and holds CIDA accreditation for its Interior Design program; it is also a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD). 100% of students receive some form of financial aid.

Recent strategic activity signals a pivot to broaden the institution's reach: in 2024 the Boards adopted a new mission explicitly including women, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming students; in 2025 the Boards voted to open enrollment to students of all genders for the first time in 177 years; in 2025 Moore launched a new Entertainment Design major, partnered with The Franklin Institute and Adobe, and became the official transcript custodian for the closed University of the Arts. Employer and industry partners include DreamWorks, Velan Studios, Gensler, Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, Push10, Entro, Philadelphia Style Magazine, and WHYY. Leadership is anchored by President Cathy Young and Chief Academic Officer Claudine Thomas.

Name

Moore College of Art and Design

Legal name

Moore College of Art & Design

Website

https://moore.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1848

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Moore College of Art and Design is a private nonprofit art and design college in Philadelphia, founded in 1848, offering 10 BFA majors, graduate, youth, and continuing-education programs to women, nonbinary, gender-nonconforming, and (as of 2025) all-gender students, with guaranteed paid internships and lifelong career support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Art and Design Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (611610), Fine Arts Schools (61161)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Arts Colleges (Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking) (EDAHAJAA), Photography Colleges & Visual Imaging Schools (EDAHAJAH), Art & Design Teacher Education Colleges (Art Education, Music Education) (EDAHAJAJ), Digital Arts & Design (Graphic Design, Illustration, Animation) (EDAMAAAB)

Keywords

• Art college
• Design education
• BFA programs
• Higher education
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: BFA degree programs for undergraduate students with tuition and fees for attendance.
2. Graduate Programs: Master's in Art Education and Post-Baccalaureate programs.
3. Youth Programs: Summer Art & Design Institute (SADI), Young Artists Workshop, and other youth education programs.
4. Adult Continuing Education: Certificate programs and flexible course options for adult learners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Moore College of Art & Design is an independent, nonprofit art and design college that delivers career-focused postsecondary education. It offers 10 BFA majors, an MA in Art Education with an Inclusive Practices emphasis, a Post-Baccalaureate program, pre-college youth programs (Summer Art & Design Institute and Young Artists Workshop), and adult continuing education certificate courses. The college differentiates through a guaranteed $1,000 paid internship in every major, a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and the Locks Career Center providing lifelong career support.

Product overview

Moore College of Art & Design is an independent art and design college offering a portfolio of educational programs centered around career-focused art and design education. The institution provides 10 BFA undergraduate majors (Animation & Game Arts, Art Education, Entertainment Design, Fashion Design, Film & Digital Cinema, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Illustration, Interior Design, and Photography), graduate programs in Art Education, youth programs including the Summer Art & Design Institute (SADI) and Young Artists Workshop, and adult continuing education with certificate options. The college differentiates through guaranteed paid internships for all students, support from the Locks Career Center, and extensive facilities including studios, galleries, and the Connelly Library. As of 2025, Moore became the only art and design college in Philadelphia to welcome students of all genders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Animation & Game Arts BFA
• Art Education MA and Post-Baccalaureate Graduate program offering a Master's in Art Education with Emphasis in Inclusive Practices and a Post-Baccalaureate pathway, preparing students for teaching careers in K-12 special populations and various classroom settings.
• Entertainment Design BFA
• Fashion Design BFA Undergraduate BFA program focused on practical, creative, and business skills for success in fashion with emphasis on sustainability, technology, diversity, and inclusion. Includes collaboration with the Philadelphia Ballet for costume design.
• Film & Digital Cinema BFA Undergraduate BFA program offering industry experience from the first day, one-on-one instruction, and access to the 300-seat Graham Auditorium and Film Studio with green screen, lighting, and camera equipment.
• Fine Arts BFA Undergraduate BFA program allowing students to pursue multiple artistic media, learn from working artists, show work in galleries, and become art world professionals. Includes tracks in 3D Media, Drawing, Printmaking, and Painting.
• Graphic Design BFA Undergraduate BFA program encompassing UX design to typography, teaching industry tools, equipment, and techniques in a collaborative laboratory studio setting.
• Illustration BFA Undergraduate BFA program blending traditional drawing and painting with digital technology to help students develop a personal style. Covers comics, graphic novels, editorial illustration, and commercial visuals.
• Interior Design BFA Undergraduate BFA program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA), meeting the educational requirements for the NCIDQ Exam. Focuses on creative, socially responsible design with attention to imagination and sustainability.
• Photography BFA Undergraduate BFA program preparing students for commercial or fine arts photography careers. Students work in analog and digital formats with state-of-the-art equipment including a professional shooting studio with green screen and lighting.
• Summer Art & Design Institute (SADI) Four-week residential pre-college experience for high school students in grades 10-12. Students earn 3 college credits and may qualify for a $10,000 scholarship toward Moore's BFA programs. Total 2026 program price: $6,755 ($4,415 tuition/supplies/activities + $1,555 residence + $785 meals) plus a $300 non-refundable deposit.
• Young Artists Workshop Year-round day program for younger artists offering creative enrichment and portfolio development opportunities. Marks its 104th year in 2025.
• Adult Continuing Education Flexible course options and certificate programs for adult learners, with a self-service portal for course registration. Supports skill development and career transition in art and design.
• Locks Career Center Career support hub providing students and alumni with internship placement, resume building, mock interviews, and speed mentoring with Moore alumni. Guarantees a paid internship in every major for every student.
• The Galleries at Moore Seven galleries presenting year-round exhibitions of established and emerging artists and designers. Provides thesis exhibition space for seniors.
• Connelly Library Library with the Margaret Minik Writers Studio providing research, study, and writing support, featuring wall-to-wall windows overlooking Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
• The Art Shop On-campus and online shop selling original artwork, jewelry, stationery, and gifts created by Moore students and alumni.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of 2024 BFA alumni employed or in graduate school one year after graduation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• The Franklin InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2025Moore College of Art & Design and The Franklin Institute partnered to expand experiential learning opportunities for Moore students. The partnership supports the debut of Moore's Entertainment Design major with mentorship, exhibition space access, and creative design project opportunities. The Franklin Institute offers classroom space for project-based courses, invites students to value-added events, and hosts a summer fellowship for paid real-world experience.
• University of the ArtsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2025Moore College became the official provider of transcript services for University of the Arts alumni and former students following UArts' closure in 2024. Moore serves as custodian of academic records and processes transcript requests through Parchment.
• AdobecoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025New partnership with Adobe expanding resources for students. All students receive Office 365 and free membership to Adobe Creative Cloud as part of their technology package.
• Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design (AICAD)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Moore participates in AICAD's mobility program, allowing undergraduate students to spend one semester at member institutions. Students pay tuition to Moore, not the host institution.
• The Galleries at MooreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Moore's Galleries present exhibitions year-round featuring established and emerging artists and designers. Premiered exhibition 'Pandemonium' by Michelle Lopez in collaboration with The Franklin Institute's Planetarium.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Leading independent art and design college offering BFA and graduate programs across fine arts, design, and architecture. Closest direct peer to Moore in mission, program breadth, and selective admissions profile.
• Parsons School of Design: Premier art and design school within The New School offering BFA and graduate design programs with strong industry connections in fashion, graphic design, and interior design - directly comparable program mix to Moore.
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC): Major independent college of art and design offering BFA, MFA, and certificate programs across fine arts, design, and liberal arts. Comparable in scale, scope of programs, and career-oriented positioning to Moore.
• Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA): Independent art and design college in Baltimore with BFA programs across fine arts, graphic design, illustration, photography, and animation - a closely matched peer in program portfolio and institutional size.
• Ringling College of Art and Design: Private nonprofit art and design college with strong computer animation, game art, and graphic design programs. Comparable institutional size and BFA-focused program structure to Moore.
• Pratt Institute: Independent art, design, and architecture college in New York with undergraduate and graduate programs across the same design and fine arts disciplines Moore offers. Strong career outcomes focus parallels Moore's positioning.
• California Institute of the Arts (CalArts): Independent art school offering BFA and MFA programs with particular strength in animation, film, and game arts - overlaps directly with Moore's Animation & Game Arts and Film & Digital Cinema programs.
• ArtCenter College of Design: Leading private nonprofit college focused on design education (graphic, industrial, transportation, entertainment). Overlaps with Moore's Industrial Design-adjacent and graphic design programs in a career-focused model.
• Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD): Large private nonprofit art and design college offering BFA and graduate programs with strong career services and industry placement - a direct competitor for design-focused students Moore also targets.
• Otis College of Art and Design: Independent art and design college in Los Angeles with BFA programs spanning fine arts, design, fashion, and digital media - similar program breadth and career-focused identity to Moore.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MooreCollegeArt
• YouTubeyoutube.com/moorecollegeart
• Facebookfacebook.com/83206147229
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/moore-college-of-art-
• Instagraminstagram.com/moorecollegeart

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Moore College of Art and Design