Western Oregon State College vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

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

Western Oregon University is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (3,722 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Oregon University is located in Monmouth, OR (Town Fringe setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Western Oregon 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: Western Oregon University 13:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

Western Oregon State College vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Western Oregon State College 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 Western Oregon University than NCA ($14,006 vs. $14,818).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Oregon University are 18.6% lower than at Northwest College of Art & Design ($12,528 vs. $15,384).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 52.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Western Oregon State College (about $6,221 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $11,879.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 79.7% higher at Western Oregon State College than at Northwest College of Art & Design (about $14,434 more per year; $32,534.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Western Oregon University than at Northwest College of Art & Design (95% vs. 87%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 40.7% larger than aid received by Western Oregon University students ($14,406 vs. $10,241).

Western Oregon State College vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Western Oregon State College 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 Western Oregon State College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Oregon University 868/1108.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Oregon University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Western Oregon State College - Test-free; NCA - Test-free.
• Western Oregon State College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than NCA (66%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Western Oregon State College vs. 40.6% at NCA.

Western Oregon State College vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Western Oregon State College 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).

• Northwest College of Art & Design's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Western Oregon University's (39%).
• Graduates from Western Oregon University earn a median of about $11,800 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Western Oregon University graduates have a $6,498 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($24,502 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, Western Oregon State College graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($253 vs. $320).
• More Western Oregon State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (53% 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.