Moore College of Art & Design Weighs Historic Shift to Co-Ed Undergraduate Admissions
Philadelphia, PA — Moore College of Art & Design, the nation’s first and only historically visual arts college for women, has announced it will formally consider opening its undergraduate programs to men. The decision, if approved, would mark a monumental shift for the 178-year-old institution, which has remained a single-sex stronghold even as nearly all its peers have transitioned to co-education.
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The proposal to admit men comes amid a turbulent period for higher education in Philadelphia, characterized by the abrupt closure of the University of the Arts (UArts) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA) ending its degree-granting programs. Moore President Cathy Young has framed the consideration as a necessary evolution to ensure the college’s long-term vitality.
“It is time to consider admitting all genders,” Young stated, signaling a departure from the college’s exclusionary undergraduate policy. While Moore is currently financially healthy—reporting an operating surplus for over two decades—the administration appears to be proactively insulating the school against the enrollment cliffs that have toppled neighboring institutions.
This potential pivot aligns with Moore’s recent “growth mode” strategy. following the collapse of UArts in mid-2024, Moore absorbed over 100 displaced students, a move that tested its capacity but ultimately demonstrated its ability to scale. Opening admissions to men would significantly widen the applicant pool, potentially stabilizing tuition revenue in an increasingly competitive market where art school enrollment is often volatile.
Objections: The Fight for “Safe Spaces”
The announcement is likely to face significant headwinds from students, alumni, and faculty who view Moore’s single-sex mission as its defining and most valuable characteristic. The college has long been celebrated as a “safe space” for women and, more recently, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students, to develop their artistic voices without the gendered pressures present in co-ed environments.
Critics of the move argue that admitting men could dilute this unique culture. When Moore updated its admissions policy in 2020 to explicitly include nonbinary and trans students, the administration emphasized the importance of creating a space where students could be their “authentic selves.” There is fear that introducing a male dynamic could disrupt the supportive, non-competitive atmosphere that many students cite as their primary reason for choosing Moore over co-ed rivals like Tyler School of Art or Drexel.
Furthermore, skeptics may point to the mixed track record of other women’s colleges that went co-ed. Institutions like Wells College faced intense backlash and student protests upon transitioning, with many arguing that the financial “fix” of co-education often fails to address deeper systemic issues while irrevocably erasing the institution’s identity.
Background: A Legacy of Women’s Education
Founded in 1848 by Sarah Worthington Peter as the Philadelphia School of Design for Women, Moore was established to prepare women for financial independence in the burgeoning industries of the Industrial Revolution. It was the first art school for women in the United States.
For the vast majority of its history, Moore’s undergraduate programs have been exclusively for women. However, the college has gradually expanded its scope. Its graduate programs have been co-educational since their inception in 2009. In 2020, the college formally expanded its undergraduate admissions policy to accept trans women, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming individuals, while still excluding cisgender men.
The current consideration to admit men would remove the final gender-based restriction, bringing Moore in line with the vast majority of art and design colleges globally, but effectively ending its 178-year distinct status as a women’s college.
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