Moore College of Art & Design will open its undergraduate programs to students of all genders starting in fall 2027, the school announced this week. The decision closes the book on more than a century of Moore's identity as the nation's only historically visual arts college for women.
The shift follows an almost unanimous vote by Moore's 23-member boards after months of input from nearly 500 students, alumni, faculty and staff, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. President Cathy Young called the move "a continuation of our mission" and framed it as a way to better serve Philadelphia's creative economy.
The college had already broadened its definition of who could enroll in 2020, when it began admitting transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students. That gradual expansion, school leaders say, helped set the stage for this latest decision. The review process included guided conversations and survey research on how Moore's women-centered identity affects prospective students' choices, CBS Philadelphia reports.
Moore currently enrolls about 466 undergraduates and says there is room to grow, with capacity for roughly 650 undergrads and matching dorm space. The college expects a slow, carefully managed increase in male students, starting with around 10 men in the first coed class in fall 2027. The school also reports solid finances, including consecutive operating surpluses, and projects that the total cost of attendance will exceed $77,000 next year, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
What Happens Next
The board's decision is not entirely final until regulators weigh in. Moore still needs approval from accrediting and oversight bodies, and the vote is subject to sign-off by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and other agencies, CBS Philadelphia notes. In the meantime, the college says it will roll out new policies and supports so studios, residence halls and career services are ready for a broader mix of students.
Why The Change
College leaders point to pressure in the region's arts education landscape as a major factor. The sudden 2024 closure of the University of the Arts and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts halting its degree programs have highlighted unmet demand for art and design pathways, a pattern documented by Inside Higher Ed.
Moore's website notes that the college was founded in 1848 and that its graduate and adult programs have long been open to all genders. Undergraduate access began to widen in 2020, when the school expanded eligibility for its bachelor’s programs, according to Moore College.
Reaction on and around campus has been mixed. Some alumni are grieving what they see as the loss of a rare women-centered institution, while others say the policy is a realistic way to broaden access and help secure Moore's future. College officials maintain that the close-knit classes, mentorship and career focus that graduates remember will remain core to the experience, even as a more diverse group of students fills the studios and classrooms.
