Northwest College of Art & Design is a private for-profit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Tacoma, Washington. It enrolls 139 students (a very small, intimate student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorAccrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges
Academic CalendarTrimester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes53
Value16
Affordability76
Selectivity68
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 66%, Northwest College of Art & Design is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
66%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northwest College of Art & Design is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
2.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Northwest College of Art & Design isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $16,418 per year. That's below the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$16,418
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
51%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
48%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$18,100
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,384
Books & Supplies
$800
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,274
Total Cost of Attendance
$30,038
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$12,977
$30,001 – $48,000
$11,857
$48,001 – $75,000
$17,146
$75,001 – $110,000
$24,031
Over $110,000
$29,101
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$18,43825%percentile
$30,750Medianpercentile
$32,25075%percentile
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $13,875, less than completers ($30,750), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Northwest College of Art & Design graduate within six years, and 77% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
77%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northwest College of Art & Design earn a median of $31,167 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$31,167
Earning > $25K
49%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Moderate return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$1.9 of median earnings 10 years out. Compare carefully against your funding plan.
Who Studies Here
Northwest College of Art & Design is home to 139 students, an intimate, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
139
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
—
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 57.6%80
Hispanic 19.4%27
Black 10.1%14
Other 7.9%11
Asian 4.3%6
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Northwest College of Art & Design. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityTacoma, Washington
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
15%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Trimesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Northwest College of Art & Design offers
a focused set of programs:
1 distinct programs across
1 major.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest College of Art & Design is 29:1, high (larger classes are common).
Student : Faculty
29:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Pros & Cons of Northwest College of Art & Design
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northwest College of Art & Design tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Larger class sizes than typical
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Northwest College of Art & Design is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Northwest College of Art & Design
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northwest College of Art & Design.
Is Northwest College of Art & Design hard to get into?
Admissions at Northwest College of Art & Design are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 66%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Northwest College of Art & Design?
Northwest College of Art & Design has an acceptance rate of 66%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Northwest College of Art & Design cost?
The average net price after aid at Northwest College of Art & Design is $16,418 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Northwest College of Art & Design worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $31,167 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $16,418 per year. That's roughly 1.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Northwest College of Art & Design known for?
Northwest College of Art & Design is best known for its programs in Design. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Northwest College of Art & Design graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Northwest College of Art & Design are $31,167, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Northwest College of Art & Design accredited?
Yes. Northwest College of Art & Design is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
How many students attend Northwest College of Art & Design?
Northwest College of Art & Design enrolls 139 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Northwest College of Art & Design?
Northwest College of Art & Design graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Northwest College of Art & Design a public or private college?
Northwest College of Art & Design is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Northwest College of Art & Design located?
Northwest College of Art & Design is located in Tacoma, Washington.
What programs does Northwest College of Art & Design offer?
Northwest College of Art & Design offers 1 distinct programs. The most popular include Design.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest College of Art & Design?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Northwest College of Art & Design is 29:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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