NCA vs. UWT

Comparable Facts

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

University of Washington Tacoma Campus is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (4,965 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northwest College of Art & Design is located in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting); University of Washington Tacoma Campus is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. University of Washington Tacoma Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1; University of Washington Tacoma Campus 15:1.

NCA vs. UWT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NCA or UWT? 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 University of Washington Tacoma Campus than NCA ($13,898 vs. $14,818).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest College of Art & Design are 6% lower than at University of Washington Tacoma Campus ($15,384 vs. $16,371).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 37.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than UWT (about $4,932 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $13,168.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 139.8% higher at UWT than at Northwest College of Art & Design (about $25,304 more per year; $43,404.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at University of Washington Tacoma Campus (87% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 18.5% larger than aid received by University of Washington Tacoma Campus students ($14,406 vs. $12,161).

NCA vs. UWT Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Washington Tacoma Campus 960/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Washington Tacoma Campus 16/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NCA - Test-free; UWT - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UWT Jun 30, 2027.
• UWT has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than NCA (66%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 40.6% at NCA vs. 21.5% at UWT.

NCA vs. UWT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NCA and UWT? 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).

• Graduates from University of Washington Tacoma Campus earn a median of about $36,200 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,800 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Washington Tacoma Campus graduates have a $16,000 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($15,000 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, UWT graduates have an estimated $165 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($155 vs. $320).
• More UWT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.