All schools
Pacific Northwest College of Art logo
PrivateUrban

Pacific Northwest College of Art

PNCA

Portland, Oregon 97209-3404

Visit website

Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitUrban

Close-knit campus

Pacific Northwest College of Art is a private urban institution in Portland, Oregon. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 412 undergraduates with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

46% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $34,883 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $40,846.

Established
1909
Mascot
Sloth
Type
Private art school

Campus Visits

1 upcoming visit · Next: Mon, Jun 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

69%Acceptance
SAT Avg
412Students
9:1Student:Faculty
46%Grad Rate
$34,883Earnings 10yr
$40,846Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate68.5%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$47,126
Room & Board$18,912
Books & Supplies$1,358
Total Cost of Attendance$67,040
Average Net Price$40,846
Median Debt at Graduation$25,000
Monthly Payment (10yr)$265

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$35,104
$30–48K$34,711
$48–75K$41,713
$75–110K$45,643
$110K+$45,596

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

47.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

5.1%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$10,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

3

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

0

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

1

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (11)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

63%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
412
Gender Split
79% / 21%
Women / Men
First Generation
18%
Pell Grant Recipients
44%

Race & Ethnicity

White 62%
Black 5%
Hispanic 12%
Asian 3%
Two+ 9%
Int'l 2%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate45.7%
Freshman Retention62.9%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$24,101
10 Years$34,883

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • After the Pietro Belluschi designed home of the museum opened in 1932, the school moved into the upper floors of the building.
  • In 1981, the school changed its name to Pacific Northwest College of Art in order to reflect its independence from the museum.
  • The independence was solidified in April 1994 when the college formally split from the art museum and was incorporated as a legal entity distinct from the museum.
  • In 1998, the college moved to its former campus in Portland's Pearl District.
  • PNCA hired Thomas Manley in 2003 as president of the institution, replacing Sally Lawrence.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

126Very High

Estimated from OR state average + large city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 60"Sunny days: 250Rainy days: 75

Nearest Cities

Portlandpop. 650K
1 mi(2 min)
Seattlepop. 740K
145 mi(251 min)
San Franciscopop. 870K
536 mi(929 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

PDX Portland OR6 mi
SEA Seattle-Tacoma134 mi
BOI Boise345 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA2533 mi · ~73h 11m drive
New York, NY2439 mi · ~70h 28m drive
Hartford, CT2473 mi · ~71h 27m drive
Providence, RI2531 mi · ~73h 7m drive
Albany, NY2398 mi · ~69h 17m drive
Syracuse, NY2275 mi · ~65h 43m drive
Rochester, NY2204 mi · ~63h 40m drive
Buffalo, NY2150 mi · ~62h 7m drive
Philadelphia, PA2406 mi · ~69h 30m drive
Pittsburgh, PA2160 mi · ~62h 24m drive
Harrisburg, PA2314 mi · ~66h 51m drive
Newark, NJ2431 mi · ~70h 14m drive
Washington, DC2347 mi · ~67h 48m drive
Baltimore, MD2356 mi · ~68h 4m drive
Atlanta, GA2169 mi · ~62h 40m drive
Charlotte, NC2285 mi · ~66h 1m drive
Raleigh, NC2372 mi · ~68h 31m drive
Miami, FL2705 mi · ~78h 9m drive
Orlando, FL2526 mi · ~72h 58m drive
Tampa, FL2501 mi · ~72h 15m drive
Nashville, TN1966 mi · ~56h 48m drive
New Orleans, LA2060 mi · ~59h 31m drive
Richmond, VA2371 mi · ~68h 30m drive
Chicago, IL1755 mi · ~50h 42m drive
Detroit, MI1964 mi · ~56h 44m drive
Minneapolis, MN1423 mi · ~41h 7m drive
St. Louis, MO1719 mi · ~49h 40m drive
Kansas City, MO1494 mi · ~43h 10m drive
Indianapolis, IN1881 mi · ~54h 20m drive
Columbus, OH2028 mi · ~58h 35m drive
Cleveland, OH2050 mi · ~59h 13m drive
Milwaukee, WI1715 mi · ~49h 33m drive
Dallas, TX1632 mi · ~47h 9m drive
Houston, TX1834 mi · ~52h 59m drive
Austin, TX1708 mi · ~49h 21m drive
San Antonio, TX1719 mi · ~49h 40m drive
Los Angeles, CA827 mi · ~23h 53m drive
San Francisco, CA536 mi · ~15h 29m drive
San Diego, CA933 mi · ~26h 57m drive
Seattle, WA145 mi · ~4h 11m drive
Portland, OR1 mi · ~2 min drive
Denver, CO981 mi · ~28h 20m drive
Phoenix, AZ1006 mi · ~29h 4m drive
Salt Lake City, UT635 mi · ~18h 21m drive
Honolulu, HI2595 mi · ~74h 58m drive
Upper Midwest / Northeast (cold winters, warm summers)

Deadline Calendar

Pacific Northwest College of Art Application Checklist

Decision Notifications