Cornish College of the Arts Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
Cornish College of the Arts is a private university in Seattle, Washington, enrolling about 488 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 62.21% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $33,696 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $41,684
- 2024 Average Net Price: $40,062 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 62.21% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 488 94.9% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 56.43%
- Carnegie Classification: Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)
- First-Generation Students: 22.6%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 8.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 1.7% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 38.4%
- Applicants (IPEDS): 1,097
Cornish College of the Arts: what the data shows
Common questions about Cornish College of the Arts, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Cornish College of the Arts?
Cornish College of the Arts is located in Seattle, WA (ZIP 98121).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Cornish College of the Arts public or private?
Cornish College of the Arts is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Cornish College of the Arts cost?
Published tuition: $41,684.
Average net price after aid: $40,062.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $31,806 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $32,992 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $34,781 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $42,906 |
| $110,001+ | $47,206 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $166,736.
How hard is it to get into Cornish College of the Arts?
Admission rate: 62.21%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Cornish College of the Arts?
Total enrollment: 488 students.
About 95% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Cornish College of the Arts?
150%-time completion rate: 56.43%.
First-year retention: 69.3%.
What do graduates of Cornish College of the Arts earn?
Median earnings: $27,580 six years after entry; $33,696 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $27,000.
29.88% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Cornish College of the Arts known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Design and Visual Communications, General (13 completions)
- Dance, General (12 completions)
- 05.0041 (12 completions)
- Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General (9 completions)
- Musical Theatre (8 completions)
- Fine/Studio Arts, General (8 completions)
- Cinematography and Film/Video Production (7 completions)
- Music Performance, General (4 completions)
- Interior Design (3 completions)
- Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology (3 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Cornish College of the Arts a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 62.21%; completion rate 56.43%; median earnings $33,696 at 10 years; net price $40,062. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$41,684
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Cornish College of the Arts was $41,684.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$40,062
2024 Value
In 2024 Cornish College of the Arts had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $40,062.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$160,248 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$40,062 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$166,736 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional where not shown.
4-year total cost breakdown for Cornish College of the Arts.
Financial Aid by Income Level
29.88% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
58.96% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
Not reported
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Cornish College of the Arts was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Cornish College of the Arts in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $33,950 | $33,950 | $33,177 |
| 2014 | $35,800 | $35,800 | $32,474 |
| 2015 | $37,240 | $37,240 | $35,118 |
| 2016 | $38,820 | $38,820 | $33,559 |
| 2017 | $40,464 | $40,464 | $36,408 |
| 2018 | $41,642 | $41,642 | $34,448 |
| 2019 | $33,360 | $33,360 | $39,078 |
| 2020 | $34,200 | $34,200 | $38,851 |
| 2021 | $35,486 | $35,486 | $37,135 |
| 2022 | $36,844 | $36,844 | $38,416 |
| 2023 | $39,913 | $39,913 | $39,060 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
62.21% Acceptance Rate
1,097 Total Applicants
773 Students Admitted
163 First-Time Students Enrolled
21.09% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Cornish College of the Arts reported total enrollment of about 488 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 29% male and 71% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (59.0%), Race/ethnicity unknown (12.7%), and Two or More Races (9.6%). About 29.88% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 22.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
94.9% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Cornish College of the Arts in 2024 is 488 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.3%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 59.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
45.00% 100% Completion Time
56.43% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 45.00% of students graduating from Cornish College of the Arts completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Design and Visual Communications, General: 31% male / 69% female
- Dance, General: 0% male / 100% female
- 05.0041: 42% male / 58% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Cornish College of the Arts.
Return on Investment
$27,000 Median Student Debt
$33,696 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
80.13% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
110.27% Return on Investment
8.0 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Cornish College of the Arts.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 13 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Design and Visual Communications, General: 13 completions
2. Dance, General: 12 completions
3. 05.0041: 12 completions
4. Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General: 9 completions
5. Musical Theatre: 8 completions
6. Fine/Studio Arts, General: 8 completions
7. Cinematography and Film/Video Production: 7 completions
8. Music Performance, General: 4 completions
9. Interior Design: 3 completions
Most popular programs at Cornish College of the Arts.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Cornish College of the Arts graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Cornish College of the Arts from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 38.4%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $5,957
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $28,682
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Cornish College of the Arts is a private non-profit institution located in Seattle, WA, classified as Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting). In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Design and Visual Communications, General, Dance, General, 05.0041. Enrollment is approximately 488 students. Student body composition includes White (59.0%), Race/ethnicity unknown (12.7%), Two or More Races (9.6%). The admission rate is 62.21%. The 150%-time completion rate is 56.43%. Approximately 29.88% of students receive Pell Grants. About 22.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Carnegie Classification: Not applicable, not in Carnegie universe (not accredited or non-degree-granting)
Location
Seattle, WA 98121
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Cornish College of the Arts provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cornish College of the Arts located?
Cornish College of the Arts is located in Seattle, WA.
What is Cornish College of the Arts's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Cornish College of the Arts is 62.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 1,097 applicants and 773 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
How much does Cornish College of the Arts cost?
Reported tuition is $41,684 and average net price is $40,062 in the latest College Scorecard data.
What is the student body demographics at Cornish College of the Arts?
Cornish College of the Arts reports total enrollment of about 488 students, White (59.0%), Race/ethnicity unknown (12.7%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Cornish College of the Arts?
About 22.6% of students at Cornish College of the Arts are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Cornish College of the Arts earn?
Median earnings are $27,580 six years after entry and $33,696 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Cornish College of the Arts?
The 150%-time completion rate is 56.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Cornish College of the Arts students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $27,000.
Is Cornish College of the Arts public or private?
Cornish College of the Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in Seattle, WA.
Is Cornish College of the Arts an HBCU?
No. Cornish College of the Arts is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Cornish College of the Arts a tribal college?
No. Cornish College of the Arts is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Cornish College of the Arts religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Cornish College of the Arts in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Washington college costs
- Washington colleges by ROI
- Seattle, Washington city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Washington
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.