NCA vs. UWT

Should I go to Northwest College of Art or University of Washington Tacoma Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if NCA or UWT is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Northwest College of Art vs. University of Washington Tacoma Campus comparison
Northwest College of Art University of Washington Tacoma Campus College 3 College 4
University of Washington Tacoma Campus
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Overview

NCA UWT
Location Poulsbo, WA Tacoma, WA
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 150 4,777
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status For-profit Non-profit
Website nca.edu washington.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

NCA UWT
Tuition (In State) $18,000 $11,524
Tuition (Out of State) $18,000 $40,878
Room & Board $15,888 $15,948
Avg Net Price $20,185 $11,290
Avg Grant Aid $10,032 $13,521
% Receiving Grant Aid 85% 77%

Admission

NCA UWT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 153 3,161
Admitted 117 2,622
Acceptance Rate 76.5% 82.9%
Enrolled % 47% 25.4%
Avg High School GPA - 3.41
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/24
SAT Range 960/1180
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jun 30, 2025

Academics

NCA UWT
Student to Faculty Ratio 29:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • General Studies (48%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

NCA UWT
Graduation Rate 67% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,600 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 47% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,000 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $320 $155

Diversity

NCA UWT
% Men 20% 6%
% Women 35% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 80% 43%
% Black 4% 7%
% Hispanic 4% 12%
% Native American 6% 1%
% Pacific Islander 3% 2%
% Two or More Races 0% 8%
% International 0% 5%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

NCA UWT
% In-State 98% 96%
% Out-of-State 2% 2%

Campus

NCA UWT
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus is larger than than NCA based on total student enrollment (4,777 students vs. 150 students)

NCA vs. UWT Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NCA or UWT?

  • Northwest College of Art is 56.2% more expensive to attend than UWT for in-state tuition ($18,000.00 vs. $11,524.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 127.1% higher at UWT than Northwest College of Art ($40,878.00 vs. $18,000.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Washington Tacoma Campus than NCA ($11,290 vs. $20,185)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwest College of Art are 0.4% lower than costs at University of Washington Tacoma Campus ($15,888 vs. $15,948)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Northwest College of Art than University of Washington Tacoma Campus (85% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Tacoma Campus students is 34.8% larger than aid received Northwest College of Art ($13,521 vs. $10,032)

NCA vs. UWT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NCA or UWT? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UWT or NCA .

  • UWT has a higher acceptance rate (82.9%) than NCA (76.5%)

NCA vs. UWT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, NCA or UWT? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between UWT and NCA.

  • Graduates from University of Washington Tacoma Campus earn on average $36,200 more per year than NCA graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $29,600)
  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus students graduate with a $16,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NCA graduates. ($15,000 vs. $31,000)
  • UWT graduates are paying $165 less per month on federal student loans than NCA graduates. ($155 vs. $320)
  • More UWT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/