Central Washington University vs. NCA

Should I go to Central Washington University or Northwest College of Art? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central Washington University or NCA is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Central Washington University vs. Northwest College of Art comparison
Central Washington University Northwest College of Art College 3 College 4
Central Washington University
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Overview

Central Washington University NCA
Location Ellensburg, WA Poulsbo, WA
Setting Distant Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 9,257 119
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #610
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit For-profit
Website cwu.edu nca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central Washington University NCA
Tuition (In State) $6,816 $18,000
Tuition (Out of State) $23,881 $18,000
Room & Board $13,645 $14,677
Avg Net Price $15,864 $16,870
Avg Grant Aid $9,294 $11,178
% Receiving Grant Aid 73% 74%

Admission

Central Washington University NCA
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,409 131
Admitted 5,992 89
Acceptance Rate 93.5% 67.9%
Enrolled % 23.5% 51.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.08 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Central Washington University NCA
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 29:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)

Outcomes

Central Washington University NCA
Graduation Rate 56% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,800 $29,600
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,737 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $214 $320

Diversity

Central Washington University NCA
% Men 47% 35%
% Women 53% 65%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No No
% White 59% 80%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 14% 4%
% Native American 1% 6%
% Pacific Islander 1% 3%
% Two or More Races 7% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 0%

Students

Central Washington University NCA
% In-State 95% 98%
% Out-of-State 5% 2%

Campus

Central Washington University NCA
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central Washington University is larger than than NCA based on total student enrollment (9,257 students vs. 119 students)

Central Washington University vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or NCA?

  • Northwest College of Art is 164.1% more expensive to attend than Central Washington University for in-state tuition ($18,000.00 vs. $6,816.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 32.7% higher at Central Washington University than Northwest College of Art ($23,881.00 vs. $18,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Washington University than NCA ($15,864 vs. $16,870)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Washington University are 7.6% lower than costs at Northwest College of Art ($13,645 vs. $14,677)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwest College of Art than Central Washington University (74% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art students is 20.3% larger than aid received Central Washington University ($11,178 vs. $9,294)

Central Washington University vs. NCA Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or NCA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NCA or Central Washington University .

  • Central Washington University has a higher acceptance rate (93.5%) than NCA (67.9%)

Central Washington University vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central Washington University or NCA? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between NCA and Central Washington University.

  • The graduation rate at NCA is higher than Central Washington University (67% vs. 56%)
  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $18,200 more per year than NCA graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $29,600)
  • Central Washington University students graduate with a $10,263 lower median federal student loan debt than NCA graduates. ($20,737 vs. $31,000)
  • Central Washington University graduates are paying $106 less per month on federal student loans than NCA graduates. ($214 vs. $320)
  • More Central Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/