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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.
Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Portland, OR and set in an urban environment. This institution follows 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.
Learn more about what Pacific Northwest College of Art has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
424
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$51,840
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
47%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, your chances of getting accepted will significantly increase. How difficult is it to get admitted to Pacific Northwest College of Art and what are the admission requirements?
In 2025, the school accepted 363 new students. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, 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. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
The application deadline for Pacific Northwest College of Art is January 15. When filling out the application as a transfer student, note that the application deadline is July 14.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. When you make your list of possible schools to attend, don't forget to consider the freshmen retention rate.
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. At this school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 47%.
Student Body
Deciding if a school is the best fit for you is not an easy task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution had an enrollment of 517 students.
That year, the institution had 48% of students coming from another state. There was a total of 424 undergraduate students, including 5 international students. The school reported to have a total of 40 transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
With a coeducational student body, the school had 98 male and 400 female full-time students in 2025. 29 full-time graduate men and 76 full-time graduate women attended this school.
Student Population Diversity
The significance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 11, while the number of Black American students was 20. 74 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 39 as multirace. The school also had 1 student who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 2 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 20 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to think about before you apply. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Pacific Northwest College of Art that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.
As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $51,840 in 2025. 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 approximate 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
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do colleges and universities typically charge for accommodation and meals?
In 2025, room and board cost at Pacific Northwest College of Art amounted to $20,564 a year. If you only needed a dorm 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
Financial support for students comes in different forms: grants, loans, scholarships, or 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 take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 85 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $43,270.
Need-based
Financial aid that a student can receive if they are determined to have financial need and meet other eligibility requirements is known as need-based aid.
301 students obtained some form of need-based financial aid. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 302. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution was $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 financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
25 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this school in 2025. 15 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. 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. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $204,973 USD.
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Getting information about the faculty at a school can help you estimate the quality of education you will receive there.
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. According to the most recent information, there are 126 teachers at this school. Out of that number, there were 60 male and 66 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about campus life at Pacific Northwest College of Art.
Student Organizations
Student organizations are run by students of an institution, and its membership typically consists only of current students and/or alumni.
There are 92 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. That includes sororities and fraternities. There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. Interested in media and communication? Pacific Northwest College of Art publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
At Pacific Northwest College of Art, there are many amenities required for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
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 everything most students need.
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. There is 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.
