Charter College vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

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

Charter College is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (2,157 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Charter College is located in Anchorage, WA (Large City setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Charter 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: Charter College 25:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

Charter College vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Charter 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 Charter College ($14,818 vs. $33,641).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest College of Art & Design are 10.8% lower than at Charter College ($15,384 vs. $17,242).
• Charter College is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than NCA (about $275 more per year; $18,375.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.5% higher at Charter College than at Northwest College of Art & Design (about $275 more per year; $18,375.00 vs. $18,100.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at Charter College (87% vs. 77%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 86.6% larger than aid received by Charter College students ($14,406 vs. $7,722).

Charter College vs. NCA Admissions comparison

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

• Charter College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Charter College - Open admission; NCA - Test-free.

Charter College vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Charter 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).

• Charter College's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than Northwest College of Art & Design's (67%).
• Graduates from Charter College earn a median of about $14,600 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Charter College graduates have a $16,125 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($14,875 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, Charter College graduates have an estimated $167 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($153 vs. $320).
• More NCA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Charter College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 28%)

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.