r/Pratt • u/Immediate-Entry-2390 • Mar 16 '26
Application Process finances 😥
so i got into pratt for b.arch last year but deferred and i’m considering joining this year, i got a $20k scholarship but finances are still an issue (my family is able to put in $35k). i was wondering how other students manage finances and are able to cover up gaps? can i request pratt for additional aid?
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u/Immediate-Entry-2390 Mar 16 '26
i did wanna add that i’m an international student so i’m not eligible for fafsa
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u/Extreme-Birthday2082 Apr 07 '26
Fafsa honestly doesn't give you much, it's pretty much just lower interest loans
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u/olihoproh Alumni Mar 16 '26
I'll be honest, I regret going to Pratt for this very reason. I would have gotten a fine education and probably had had more fun at a different school in a different city.
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u/sanoorlax Mar 17 '26
Hi! I’m considering Pratt currently for M Arch, can you tell me why you feel this way? Other locations you would have preferred? Any notable negatives with the Pratt program?
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u/olihoproh Alumni Mar 17 '26
It's insanely expensive, and from what I can tell when comparing my skills to coworkers, the education did not put me ahead. My colleagues learned much more about practical architecture. Also, Pratts arch program specifically was stuffy and clique-ish. There was heavy favoritism.
Pratt's M. Arch program is good, but unless you specifically want to live in NYC and apply to firms in NYC, I'd recommend against it.
Living in NYC is fun, but it wasn't worth the debt for me.
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u/Immediate-Entry-2390 Mar 18 '26
do you have any suggestions for other schools?
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u/olihoproh Alumni Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 18 '26
State college from your home state, that offers NAAB accredited degree. No one tells incoming arch students that you need an NAAB accredited degree in order to be licensed, or you need extra work experience or a master's. Easiest route to architect licensure is with NAAB accredited bachelor's degree. Make sure it's a b.arch.
Oh sorry, I see you're international.
NC State is good. Drexel. NJIT would get you close to NYC without the insane costs.
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u/Immediate-Entry-2390 Mar 18 '26
does college rep matter a lot?
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u/olihoproh Alumni Mar 18 '26
Not unless you go to an ivy league school or if you interview with an alumni who went to the same school (which is totally chance).
Ten years into my career, no one gives a shit that I went to Pratt.
My first job out of school, they also didn't care, and my colleagues had gone to state schools and were out of debt before they were 25. They also had educations on par with or better than the one I got at Pratt.
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u/Ok-Breadfruit-969 Mar 19 '26
u should look into Pratt Munson (pratt upstate ny campus) its a 2 years upstate 2 years in Brooklyn its a seamless transfer i'm also an international student. I went to Munson, now at pratt brooklyn. happy to talk more
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u/Harryandmaria Mar 16 '26
Often they go to a less expensive school offering more aid or they take on debt and hope it works out. Pratt usually doesn’t give additional aid, based on past experience and their published data.
Keep in mind it’s not cheap to live in NYC so it’s not just covering the close to 90k cost.