Academy College vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

Compare Academy College in Bloomington, MN with Northwest College of Art & Design in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northwest College of Art & Design is larger than Academy College based on total student enrollment (139 students vs. 56 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Academy College is located in Bloomington, MN (Small City setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Academy College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Academy College 8:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

Academy College vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Academy 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 Northwest College of Art & Design than Academy College ($14,818 vs. $29,093).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Academy College are 44.5% lower than at Northwest College of Art & Design ($8,539 vs. $15,384).
• Academy College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than NCA (about $580 more per year; $18,680.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.2% higher at Academy College than at Northwest College of Art & Design (about $580 more per year; $18,680.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at Academy College (87% vs. 50%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 201.3% larger than aid received by Academy College students ($14,406 vs. $4,781).

Academy College vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Academy 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 Academy College.

• Academy College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Academy College - not listed in this dataset; NCA - Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind).

Academy College vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Academy 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 Academy College's (50%).
• Graduates from Academy College earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,400 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Academy College graduates have a $3,116 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($27,884 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, Academy College graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($288 vs. $320).
• More NCA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Academy College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 38%)

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.