In an effort to share planning information with our incoming first-time, first-year students and those supporting their enrollment, we’ve prepared this resource page for your convenience:
Why Is Pratt’s New Student Enrollment So High This Year?
With the changes and delays in the FAFSA and its processing this year, higher education was expecting lower deposit yields and higher deposit withdrawals this year. As such, we opted to admit rather than waitlist more applicants to offset this trend. However, we didn’t experience the anticipated deposit decline and received a strong May 1 deposit response.
Will Class Size Be Increasing? Will There Be an Adjustment to Tuition Due to This Growth?
Maximum class sizes will not be increasing. Foundation sections will remain capped at 15 students. We are hiring additional qualified faculty and offering more course sections to accommodate this growth to maintain the small student-to-faculty ratio, continuing to provide the high quality, high-touch education for which Pratt is known. As such, the cost to educate a Pratt student will remain consistent and there will not be a reduction in tuition.
Additionally, the Institute as a whole is committed to prioritizing resources for the incoming student class to ensure that spaces, staff support, shops, and classrooms have the capacity to meet the demands of the increased first-year student body.
The class we are welcoming in Fall 2024 will be similar in size to the class we welcomed in Fall 2021. That class enjoyed a high level of retention and academic success. We have no reason to believe that will be any different for our new students this coming year.
Will There Be an Adjustment to Housing Charges Due to This Growth?
Students will be charged the published established rate for a triple room, which is $4,379/semester.
How Is Pratt Ensuring Student Safety with the Larger Student Body, Especially if Emergency or Crisis Situations Occur?
The class we are welcoming in Fall 2024 will be similar in size to the class we welcomed in Fall 2021. That class enjoyed a high level of health and safety. We have no reason to believe that will be any different this coming year.
The Department of Public Safety is committed to maintaining and fostering a student-centered, learning-focused campus, where students from all backgrounds can feel welcome and supported; as well as the protection of personal property, equipment, and facilities.
The members of the Pratt Campus Safety team are highly trained public safety professionals, responsible for ensuring best practices are followed in the areas of campus safety, security, and emergency management. The members of our Department are on-duty 24/7 to provide public safety services, as well as peace of mind, to the Pratt Institute community.
The AVP for Campus Safety & Preparedness works closely with many campus stakeholders including Athletics, Student Life, Health Services, Counseling, Residential Life, Facilities, Risk Management, Public Safety, Title IX, and Learning Access, as well as the academic departments and event planning and management.
For additional information on campus safety, please visit Department of Public Safety
How Is Pratt Accommodating Student Health and Well-being with the Larger Enrollment?
Pratt has long identified as a place to explore and grow freely—health and safety is the foundation that makes that experience possible. There’s nothing more important than the well-being of our students. Our health and safety systems, programs, and practices are robust and far-reaching, ensuring that you feel confident and cared for, both on and off campus.
The health center operates as a primary health care clinic. We can support students with seasonal diseases and illnesses through primary assessment, referrals to specialists and medication management. We successfully see students through the variance of seasonal and conditional ailments as well as injuries.
For more information on health services, please visit Health Services
In the last two years we have increased staff in our student care coordination and advocacy and created an office of student success. Both of these offices are staffed to support our students with any concerns they may have about their Pratt experience.
Will Pratt Still Be Able to Graduate Students in Four Years?
The class we are welcoming in Fall 2024 will be similar in size to the class we welcomed in Fall 2021. That class enjoyed a high level of academic success and students are making timely progress toward graduation. We have no reason to believe that will be any different this coming year.
Will There Be Additional Academic Advisors Hired to Make Sure That Students Stay on Track?
We have recently added new advisors, and advisor-to-student ratios will remain within best practices this year.
The Office of Student Support and Advocacy pays close attention to the needs of first year students, in collaboration with Student Success and Academic Advisement, to coordinate assistance and support from Student Services and Residential Life.
Will There Be Additional Studio and Gallery Space?
The Institute as a whole is committed to prioritizing resources for the incoming student class to ensure that spaces, staff support, shops, and classrooms have the capacity to meet the demands of the increased first-year student body.
The Pratt Catalog States That the Average Student-Teacher Ratio Is 9 to 1. What Is the New Ratio for the Class of 2028?
Student-Teacher ratios represent all 4 years of study (5 years for Architecture). First-year classes are typically capped at 15, and class size tends to become smaller as students progress through their studies and classes become more specialized. We will continue to monitor the student teacher ratio over the coming years and provide the high quality, high-touch education for which Pratt is known.
What Will Storage Space Look Like for Students in the Residence Halls?
Students will have access to dressers, closet spaces, and/or wardrobes in their assigned rooms. Closet/wardrobe spaces will be shared among the students in the rooms. We will provide room layout charts and a list of ‘Things to Bring’ as part of the room assignment communication that will have dimensions to help your student plan for the best use of the storage spaces in the rooms.
Will Professors Be Required to Increase Office Hours to Accommodate the 30% Increase in First-Year Students?
Faculty office hours are established by their union contract and will remain the same. In general, they are an underused resource by students, and faculty routinely provide help outside of office hours via email and other platforms.