Seattle Central vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

Compare Seattle Central College 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.

Seattle Central College is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (5,396 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Seattle Central College is located in Seattle, WA (Large City setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Seattle Central College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Seattle Central College 17:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

Seattle Central vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Seattle Central 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 Seattle Central College than NCA ($11,187 vs. $14,818).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest College of Art & Design are 19.2% lower than at Seattle Central College ($15,384 vs. $19,041).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 249.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Seattle Central (about $12,916 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $5,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 215.1% higher at NCA than at Seattle Central College (about $12,355 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $5,745.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at Seattle Central College (87% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 111.7% larger than aid received by Seattle Central College students ($14,406 vs. $6,805).

Seattle Central vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Seattle Central 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 Seattle Central.

• Seattle Central College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Seattle Central - Open admission; NCA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Seattle Central Aug 31, 2027.

Seattle Central vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Seattle Central 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).

• Graduates from Seattle Central College earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,800 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Seattle Central College graduates have a $21,110 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($9,890 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, Seattle Central graduates have an estimated $218 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($102 vs. $320).

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.