Cornish College of the Arts
A good fit for students who want small classes and close faculty access. earnings-to-debt ratio is tight. a private nonprofit school with 488 students.
About This School
Cornish College of the Arts is a private nonprofit institution located in Seattle, Washington with approximately 488 undergraduate students enrolled. Cornish College of the Arts has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 62%. The average net price after financial aid is $40,062 per year. The graduation rate is 56%, and the typical graduate earns $33,600 within 10 years of enrollment.
The Cornish College of the Arts (CCA) is the art college of Seattle University, a private Jesuit university in Seattle, Washington, United States. Founded in 1914 by music teacher Nellie Cornish, it operated as a private art college until it was absorbed by Seattle University on June 2, 2025. The college's main campus is in the Denny Triangle portion of the South Lake Union neighborhood near downtown Seattle.
The numbers here tell a mixed story — a 52% graduation rate and 69% freshman retention suggest a meaningful share of students don't finish, which is worth asking hard questions about before enrolling. Median earnings of $33,600 a decade out are modest, especially against an average net price of $39,060 per year, so students should have a clear-eyed plan for how they'll build a sustainable career in the arts. Worth considering if you're drawn to Seattle's creative scene and the structure of a recently absorbed Seattle University affiliation, but financial fit and career planning need to be front and center.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 15% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
Will This School Pay Off?
Worth scrutinizing. Median earnings relative to debt are tight.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (488 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
Other Schools in Washington
University of Washington
Seattle, WA · Public
Washington State University
Pullman, WA · Public
Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA · Public
Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · Public
Bellevue College
Bellevue, WA · Public
Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA · Public
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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