Design and Applied Arts bachelor's degree outcomes at Northwest College of Art & Design

Tacoma, WA · Private for-profit · Federal field 5004

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings trail the same-degree benchmark.

$15,605 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 85.7% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: Not reached
10-year scenario: −137% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

—Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$27,694 → Not available

—Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

—Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

—Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

28Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

Not availableAwarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$16,418

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$30,750

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$35,885

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$326/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$16,418Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$30,038Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE66.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE57.7%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$27,694Year 1

$35,885Year 4

Not availableYear 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

10.9% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$2,990

Estimated loan payment$326

28borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$35,885 vs. $51,490

$15,605 below the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Art, Drama, and Music Teachers, Postsecondary$77,950 median wageWA estimate · 1,400 jobs · 25-1121+2.2% projected U.S. growth · 8k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreeGraphic Designers$72,710 median wageWA estimate · 3,960 jobs · 27-1024-1.7% projected U.S. growth · 16k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeCommercial and Industrial Designers$94,280 median wageWA estimate · 340 jobs · 27-1021+2.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.8k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArtists and Related Workers, All Other$71,240 median wageU.S. estimate · 130 jobs · 27-1019+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 1.1k openings/yrTypical entry: No formal educational credentialDesigners, All Other$57,510 median wageWA estimate · 350 jobs · 27-1029+1.2% projected U.S. growth · 2.1k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSpecial Effects Artists and Animators$133,480 median wageWA estimate · 1,130 jobs · 27-1014-0.3% projected U.S. growth · 4.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeWeb and Digital Interface Designers$130,480 median wageWA estimate · 11,580 jobs · 15-1255+6.0% projected U.S. growth · 8.3k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeSet and Exhibit Designers$77,230 median wageWA estimate · 170 jobs · 27-1027+1.4% projected U.S. growth · 2.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArt Directors$121,170 median wageWA estimate · 650 jobs · 27-1011+4.2% projected U.S. growth · 12.2k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeFashion Designers$82,030 median wageWA estimate · 21,450 jobs · 27-1022+0.1% projected U.S. growth · 2.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreeArchitecture Teachers, Postsecondary$81,950 median wageWA estimate · 100 jobs · 25-1031+2.6% projected U.S. growth · 0.7k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePostsecondary Teachers, All Other$78,940 median wageWA estimate · 470 jobs · 25-1199+2.0% projected U.S. growth · 12.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

Possible alternatives