NCA vs. AIU Houston

Comparable Facts

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

Northwest College of Art & Design is larger than AIU Houston based on total student enrollment (139 students vs. 116 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwest College of Art & Design is located in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting); American InterContinental University Houston is in Houston, TX (Large City setting).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. American InterContinental University Houston is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1; American InterContinental University Houston 13:1.

NCA vs. AIU Houston Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NCA or AIU Houston? 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 AIU Houston ($14,818 vs. $18,792).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American InterContinental University Houston are 41.2% lower than at Northwest College of Art & Design ($9,044 vs. $15,384).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 22.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than AIU Houston (about $3,271 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $14,829.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.1% higher at NCA than at American InterContinental University Houston (about $3,271 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $14,829.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at American InterContinental University Houston (87% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 97.5% larger than aid received by American InterContinental University Houston students ($14,406 vs. $7,295).

NCA vs. AIU Houston Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NCA or AIU Houston? 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 AIU Houston and NCA.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NCA - Test-free; AIU Houston - Not reported.

NCA vs. AIU Houston Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NCA and AIU Houston? 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 American InterContinental University Houston's (14%).
• Graduates from American InterContinental University Houston earn a median of about $17,800 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwest College of Art & Design graduates have a $1,981 lower median loan debt than AIU Houston graduates ($31,000 vs. $32,981).
• Among borrowers, NCA graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AIU Houston graduates ($320 vs. $341).
• More NCA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AIU Houston students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 23%)

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.