QUICK ANSWER
The biggest structural difference is when photography starts. At SVA, first-year Photography and Video students are already in the darkroom, on assignment and in video class. At Parsons, every first-year student takes the shared Parsons first year, and the photography core begins in the second year with analog and digital practice.
So SVA suits a student who already knows photography is the medium and wants four years of it. Parsons suits a student who wants photography inside a broader design school, with a first year spent on drawing, materials, systems and time-based work. Funding in our records also differs sharply: Parsons made awards to 60% of our admits, SVA to 29%.
UPDATE · SVA FINANCES
SVA has reported a structural deficit of about $22 million, and course and foundation-section cancellations were reported in 2026. No closure has been announced. Ask the Photography and Video department which courses and faculty are confirmed before paying a deposit.
DARKROOM / STUDIO · 1
First Year Compared
| SVA · BFA Photography and Video | Parsons · BFA Photography | |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 studio | Workshop I–II (black-and-white darkroom), Photography on Assignment, two digital imaging courses, Video I, Picture Symposium | Shared Parsons first year: Integrative Studio 1–2, Drawing/Imaging, Space/Materiality, Time, Sustainable Systems |
| Year 1 academic | History of Photography; two writing courses | Integrative Seminar 1–2; Objects as History |
| Photo core begins | Year 1 | Year 2: Analog Practices, Digital Practices, History of Photography, then Lighting Practices |
| Moving image | Video I in year 1 | Moving Image and Still to Moving in year 3 |
| Senior year | Thesis I–II and a departmental review of studio work | Thesis 1–2 and Professional Practices 1–2 |
| Credits | 120: 72 studio, 15 art history, 30 humanities and sciences, 3 elective | 120 over eight semesters of 15 credits |
From SVA’s BFA Photography and Video degree requirements and Parsons’ BFA Photography curriculum page, checked October 2026.
By the end of first year an SVA student will have spent two semesters printing in the darkroom. A Parsons student will have spent the year on a design-school foundation that reaches photography only in part. Neither is a weakness. It is a choice about how early you want to specialise.
DARKROOM / STUDIO · 2
Portfolio and Application
| Item | SVA | Parsons |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio | 10–20 photographs or videos; video applicants also need at least 5 still photographs | 8–12 pieces; at least 2 with short descriptions of process, ideas or materials |
| Observation drawing | Not required for Photography and Video | Pure observational work is not required |
| Writing | Statement of about 500 words | Two essays of 300–400 words each |
| Early Action | December 1, 2026 | See Parsons’ deadlines page |
From SVA’s Undergraduate Application Requirements and Parsons’ How to Apply page, checked October 2026.
For a Korean student whose strength is photography, both schools let the portfolio be all photographs. SVA asks for more images, so a student with a large body of strong work can show range. Parsons asks for fewer, so each image and the two essays carry more weight. Our guide to what replaced the Parsons Challenge covers the Parsons essays.
DARKROOM / STUDIO · 3
Cost and Funding
| SVA | Parsons | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, 2026–27 | $55,270 ($27,635 per semester) | $62,348 ($31,174 per semester) |
| Royal Blue admits | 140 | 63 |
| Admits with a scholarship award | 41 (29%) | 38 (60%) |
| Average award | $58,944 (n=41) | $53,116 (n=38) |
Tuition from SVA’s Tuition and Fees page and The New School’s 2026–27 tuition tables. Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026), all majors combined; awards are not admission rates.
FOR KOREAN FAMILIES
SVA is our largest single acceptance count, but in our record fewer than a third of those admits received an award. Parsons made awards to a majority. If funding decides the choice, apply to both and compare written offers in spring rather than choosing in advance. See our Parsons admissions guide and SVA guide.
DARKROOM / STUDIO · 4
Frequently Asked Questions
Do SVA photography students start photography in the first year?
Yes. The first year includes darkroom workshops, Photography on Assignment, digital imaging courses and Video I.
When does photography start at Parsons?
After the shared Parsons first year. The photography core begins in the second year with Analog Practices and Digital Practices.
Does SVA Photography require observational drawings?
No. Photography and Video applicants submit 10–20 photographs or videos and may skip the general portfolio section that asks for observational work.
How many pieces does Parsons want for photography?
8–12 pieces, the same range as other Parsons BFA programmes, with at least two described in writing.
Which costs less, SVA or Parsons?
SVA’s 2026–27 tuition is $55,270 a year and Parsons’ is $62,348, before fees, housing and scholarships.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students, including 140 at SVA and 63 at Parsons. We help photography applicants edit a portfolio to each school’s rules and plan the essays Parsons requires. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
Curricula from SVA’s BFA Photography and Video degree requirements and Parsons’ BFA Photography curriculum; requirements from SVA’s Undergraduate Application Requirements and Parsons’ How to Apply; tuition from SVA Tuition and Fees and The New School tuition tables (2026–27). Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: What Replaced the Parsons Challenge · Parsons Admissions Guide · SVA Guide 2026 · SVA vs Pratt for Fine Art · Royal Blue Results