FIDM LA vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

Compare FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles, CA with Northwest College of Art & Design in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (564 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising 135:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

FIDM LA vs. NCA Cost Comparison

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

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwest College of Art & Design than FIDM LA ($14,818 vs. $39,494).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest College of Art & Design are 30.3% lower than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising ($15,384 vs. $22,086).
• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising is 93.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NCA (about $16,900 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.4% higher at FIDM LA than at Northwest College of Art & Design (about $16,900 more per year; $35,000.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (87% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 4.1% larger than aid received by FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising students ($14,406 vs. $13,834).

FIDM LA vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FIDM LA 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 FIDM LA.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FIDM LA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind); NCA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).

FIDM LA vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FIDM LA 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).

• FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than Northwest College of Art & Design's (67%).
• Graduates from FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising earn a median of about $12,000 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,600 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, FIDM Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduates have a $18,000 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($13,000 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, FIDM LA graduates have an estimated $186 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($134 vs. $320).
• More FIDM LA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (61% 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.