Seattle South vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

Compare South Seattle 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.

South Seattle College is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (5,210 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• South Seattle College is located in Seattle, WA (Large City setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• South Seattle 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: South Seattle College 33:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

Seattle South vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Seattle South 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 South Seattle College than NCA ($8,012 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 South Seattle College ($15,384 vs. $19,041).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 245.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Seattle South (about $12,862 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $5,238.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 212.3% higher at NCA than at South Seattle College (about $12,304 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $5,796.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at South Seattle College (87% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 92.5% larger than aid received by South Seattle College students ($14,406 vs. $7,483).

Seattle South vs. NCA Admissions comparison

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

• South Seattle College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Seattle South - Open admission; NCA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Seattle South Sep 13, 2026.

Seattle South vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Seattle South 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 South Seattle College earn a median of about $10,100 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,700 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.