Washington State vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

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

Washington State University is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (25,685 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Washington State University is located in Pullman, WA (Distant Town setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Washington State University 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: Washington State University 15:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

Washington State vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Washington State 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 Washington State ($14,818 vs. $18,171).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington State University are 11.5% lower than at Northwest College of Art & Design ($13,622 vs. $15,384).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 35.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Washington State (about $4,709 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $13,391.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.5% higher at Washington State than at Northwest College of Art & Design (about $11,850 more per year; $29,950.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at Washington State University (87% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 32.3% larger than aid received by Washington State University students ($14,406 vs. $10,886).

Washington State vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Washington State 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 Washington State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington State University 1020/1210.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington State University 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Washington State - Test-free; NCA - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Washington State Jan 31, 2027.
• Washington State has a higher acceptance rate (86.6%) than NCA (66%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at Washington State vs. 40.6% at NCA.

Washington State vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Washington State 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).

• The graduation rate at Washington State is the same as at Northwest College of Art & Design (67% vs. 67%).
• Graduates from Washington State University earn a median of about $24,800 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington State University graduates have a $10,571 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($20,429 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, Washington State graduates have an estimated $109 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($211 vs. $320).
• More Washington State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.