Also, how do the photography programs at both the schools compare with each other?
Don’t know much about Pratt. But know about SAIC.
Essentially, they are not interested in great photographs. Check out the work around their photography department and it’s all heavily treated to fit the post modernist approaches of all their other departments. From what we can see, that’s not the basis for a career as a photographer. But a small number of people might be able to do it.
In my son’s first year photography class, 4 of 12 students dropped out after one semester because the program was not at all what they expected.