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Portland , OR
Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) is a private art and design college located in Portland, Oregon. With a history that spans over 100 years, PNCA is one of the oldest and most prestigious art institutions in the Pacific Northwest region. The college offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, including majors in fine arts, design, media arts, and more, providing students with a well-rounded education in the arts.
PNCA prides itself on its commitment to nurturing creativity and innovation in its students. Through its rigorous curriculum and diverse programs, the college aims to prepare students to become successful artists and designers who can make a meaningful impact in the world. The college also places a strong emphasis on hands-on learning, with state-of-the-art facilities and studio spaces that allow students to explore their artistic ideas and push the boundaries of their craft.
Additionally, PNCA is deeply connected to the vibrant arts community in Portland, known for its thriving creative scene. The college regularly collaborates with local artists, organizations, and galleries to provide its students with valuable opportunities for networking, exhibitions, and internships. This strong connection to the local arts community also translates into a rich cultural experience for students, with many events, exhibitions, and performances happening both on and off campus throughout the year.
In summary, Pacific Northwest College of Art is a renowned art and design institution that offers a comprehensive education in the arts. With a long-standing history of excellence, a commitment to creativity, and strong ties to the local arts community, PNCA provides students with an environment that fosters artistic growth, exploration, and opportunities for real-world engagement. Whether aspiring to become fine artists, graphic designers, illustrators, or media artists, PNCA equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in their chosen creative fields.
Located in Portland, OR and set in an urban environment, Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private comprehensive higher education institution. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 74%. The freshman retention rate at Pacific Northwest College of Art is 69.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 47%.
The freshmen application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is July 14.
Here are some latest data on important things to consider about Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Quick Facts
424
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$51,840
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
47%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to maximize your chances of being accepted. What are the admission requirements for Pacific Northwest College of Art?
In 2025, the school accepted 363 new students. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.48. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Deadlines
The final day for applications to this school is January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, the application deadline is July 14.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you create your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.
The freshman retention rate for Pacific Northwest College of Art was 69.5% in 2025.
Another important metric to consider is the graduation rate. This rate indicates how many students finish their degrees within a certain timeframe. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 47%.
Student Body
It is never easy to figure out which school is the perfect fit for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 517 students.
That year, the school had an out-of-state student body percentage of 48. There was a total of 424 undergraduate students, including 5 international students. 40 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 98 male and 400 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution. This school had 29 full-time graduate male and 76 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. A heterogeneous student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 11 Asian students and 20 Afro-American students in 2025. 74 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 39 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 20 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition cost for this university.
Tuition in 2025 was $51,840 for full-time domestic students. Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 were required to pay additional fees in the amount of $100.
Books and Supplies
The estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into consideration as another significant financial element. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,442.
Boarding
Besides tuition, another cost to consider is the price of housing in the dorms and eating at the school cafeteria. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at Pacific Northwest College of Art amounted to $20,564 a year. If you only needed a dormitory room, you had to pay $12,850 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $12,850.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 51,840 |
| Room and Board | $ 20,564 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,442 |
| Total Expense | $ 73,846 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial aid: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Pacific Northwest College of Art, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 85 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $43,270 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 301 students who secured need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 302. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution added up to $1,416,436, and state $629,023. The students of Pacific Northwest College of Art received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $10,561,258, and external in the amount of $159,337.
$23,982
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 25 students overall (including freshmen) at Pacific Northwest College of Art in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 15 full-time freshmen. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need was $12,953,440. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $204,973 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Pacific Northwest College of Art was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. The total number of faculty teaching at the institution is 126. Out of that number, there were 60 men and 66 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
It is not all about learning and grades at Pacific Northwest College of Art: campus life is a crucial component of your educational experience. Find out some info about social life at Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 92. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. For individuals with an interest in media and communication, Pacific Northwest College of Art publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Pacific Northwest College of Art provides a number of services crucial for a pleasant and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a 24-hour security patrol. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Pacific Northwest College of Art.
All in all, campus life at Pacific Northwest College of Art is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Career Counselling
At Pacific Northwest College of Art, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Pacific Northwest College of Art is located in Portland, OR.
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According to the latest information, you would need to pay about 51,840 USD per academic year for Pacific Northwest College of Art.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Pacific Northwest College of Art is 74%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Pacific Northwest College of Art is 69.5%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.