CityU vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

Compare City University of Seattle in Seattle, WA with Northwest College of Art & Design in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

City University of Seattle is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (2,007 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• City University of Seattle is located in Seattle, WA (Midsize City setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• City University of Seattle is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: City University of Seattle 5:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

CityU vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CityU or NCA? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at City University of Seattle are 24.5% lower than at Northwest College of Art & Design ($11,613 vs. $15,384).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 24.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CityU (about $3,511 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $14,589.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.1% higher at NCA than at City University of Seattle (about $3,511 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $14,589.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at City University of Seattle (87% vs. 0%).

CityU vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CityU or NCA? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NCA and CityU.

• City University of Seattle reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CityU - Open admission; NCA - Test-free.

CityU vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CityU and NCA? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Northwest College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than City University of Seattle's (13%).
• Graduates from City University of Seattle earn a median of about $22,900 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,500 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, City University of Seattle graduates have a $6,334 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($24,666 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, CityU graduates have an estimated $65 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($255 vs. $320).
• More CityU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.