Northwest College of Art & Design
- Graduation Rate
- 48% C-
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $31,167 D
- Below average for college graduates
- Net Price
- $16,418 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 66% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C- overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 11.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $11.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $11.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $655,319.
What The Data Says
-
A C- overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
-
Graduate earnings fall 24% below the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $11.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Northwest College of Art & Design
Northwest College of Art & Design is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private for-profit Special-Focus Institution
- Carnegie Class
- Special Focus
- Enrollment
- 139
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts
Why students choose Northwest College of Art & Design
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 66% of applicants. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $16,418 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $31,167 ten years after enrolling — 24% below the typical college, against $30,750 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Mobility and social-capital data are limited for this school — see what's reported below.
See mobility →Can I Get In?
How selective Northwest College of Art & Design is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northwest College of Art & Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Tacoma, Washington, Northwest College of Art & Design offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 66%
- Retention Rate
- 77%
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 29:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- Applicants
- 131
- Admitted
- 89
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwest College of Art & Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwest College of Art & Design is $18,100, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,418. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,977 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,750 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $18,100
- Out-of-State
- $18,100
- Avg Net Price
- $16,418
- Median Debt
- $30,750
- Pell Grant Rate
- 51%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 48%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $12,977
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,857
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $17,146
- Family Income $110K+
- $29,101
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Northwest College of Art & Design — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northwest College of Art & Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwest College of Art & Design report median earnings of $31,167, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $27,505
- 8 Years
- $32,139
- 10 Years
- $31,167
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.99x
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 59%
- Earning > $25K
- 46%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (10)
- 40%
- 100% (10)
- 40%
- 100% (10)
- 40%
- 100% (10)
- 40%
How Northwest Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Northwest College of Art & Design Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northwest College of Art & Design delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $16,418/year ($65,672 total). Graduates earn $31,167 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $720,991 in total earnings — a net gain of $655,319 (11.0× your investment). The median debt is $30,750, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 48% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $65,672
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $720,991
- Net Return
- $655,319
- ROI Multiple
- 11.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $16,418
- Median Debt
- $30,750
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 48%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Northwest College of Art & Design awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 100% $28,016 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northwest College of Art & Design's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- C-Art Director$105,180 · 5% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Animator$86,120 · 3% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Fashion Designer$79,600 · 1% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Interior Designer$62,510 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
- C-Museum Curator$59,880 · 8% growthAdaptable 60
- D+Graphic Designer$58,910 · 3% growthVulnerable 48
- D+Photographer$40,760 · 4% growthAdaptable 60
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northwest College of Art & Design? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Tacoma, Washington, Northwest College of Art & Design offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 66% of applicants receiving an offer. The graduation rate is roughly 48%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northwest College of Art & Design? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northwest College of Art & Design is $18,100, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $16,418. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $12,977 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $30,750 in federal student loans.
Is Northwest College of Art & Design Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northwest College of Art & Design report median earnings of $31,167, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northwest College of Art & Design.
- Los Angeles College of MusicPasadena, CA · Strong match44% grad $31,758 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Nossi College of Art and DesignNashville, TN · Strong match40% grad $35,113 earn 46% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Eastern International College-Jersey CityJersey City, NJ · Strong match31% grad $35,008 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar size
- Five Towns CollegeDix Hills, NY · Strong match52% grad $35,887 earn 54% acceptWhy: similar grad rate · similar size
- Walnut Hill CollegePhiladelphia, PA · Strong match59% grad $36,689 earn 43% acceptWhy: similar size
- St Louis College of Health Careers-FentonFenton, MO · Strong match67% grad $32,217 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size
