Pacific Northwest College of Art

511 NW Broadway, Portland, Oregon

PNCA Campus
Background Image: PNCA Campus

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) empowers artists and designers to reimagine what art and design can do in the world. Founded in 1909, PNCA is an accredited, independent visual arts and design college offering 10 undergraduate and six graduate degree programs centered on the core values of professional practice, integrated knowledge, critical thinking, effective communication, and social responsibility.

Located in an historic building in the heart of Portland, Oregon's downtown Pearl District, PNCA is actively involved in Portland's cultural life with exhibitions at its Center for Contemporary Art & Culture and a vibrant public program of lectures, symposia, workshops, with internationally recognized visiting artists from around the world. Broadly and densely networked, PNCA fosters collaborative relationships between students, international artists, and the region's art, design, and business communities, as an extension of the institution's intellectual program.

DEGREES OFFERED: BFA, MFA, MA
ACCREDITATION: NASAD, NWCCU

Hover over dots to see degrees offered and online availability.

MAJORS OFFERED:

Animated ArtsBachelors Degree
Applied Craft and DesignMasters Degree
Collaborative DesignMasters Degree
Communication DesignBachelors Degree
Creative WritingBachelors Degree
Critical StudiesMasters Degree
IllustrationBachelors Degree
IntermediaBachelors Degree

 

 

MA in Design SystemsMasters Degree
PaintingBachelors Degree
PhotographyBachelors Degree
Print MediaMasters Degree
PrintmakingBachelors Degree
SculptureBachelors Degree
Video + SoundBachelors Degree
Visual StudiesMasters (low-residency) Masters Degree

MINORS OFFERED:

Art and EcologyBachelors degree

LEGEND

Certificate
Associates Degree
Bachelor's Degree

Postbaccalaureate Certificate
Low-Residency Masters
Masters Degree


Fully Online
Partially Online
Optional Online

FOUNDATION PROGRAM
In Foundation Year, students at PNCA are immersed from day one in media and making of all kinds, from drawing and two- and three-dimensional design to digital tools and time-based media. Students delve into the histories of art, culture, and ideas to develop a toolkit for critical thinking to apply to their own work as well as the work of others. Every new student takes the First Year Seminar which is designed to them find their way in a new community while developing skills and habits to thrive at PNCA and beyond. Through presentations, hands-on projects, discussions, and field trips, students learn the ins and outs of the college, the city, and all of the resources available to them for their studies and creative practice. The classroom and life skills students develop during this first year experience are key to both success at PNCA and to a lifetime of creative practice.


This program is Residential.

UNDERGRADUATE COST OF ATTENDANCE 2023-2024
FULL-TIME  
TUITION $ 47,026
MANDATORY FEES 100
BOOKS & SUPPLIES 1,358
ON-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD 18,192
OFF-CAMPUS ROOM & BOARD 18,192
OTHER 2,980
FINANCIAL AID 2021-2022 FULL-TIME FRESHMEN *
AID CATEGORY AVG PER RECIPIENT 1st YR RECIPIENTS
INSTITUTIONAL AWARDS3 $16,606 97%
FEDERAL/NATIONAL GRANTS 7,571 33%
STATE & LOCAL GRANTS 3,059 15%
FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS 5,186 42%

AVERAGE AMOUNT RECEIVED PER RECIPIENT: $23,295
100% OF FULL-TIME FRESHMEN RECEIVED AID

* Most recent financial aid data available

ACCEPTANCE RATE: 88%

Acceptance Rate = The percentage of students admitted out of applications received in a given year.

 
ENROLLMENT: FALL 2022

UNDERGRADUATE FTE1 = 366

UNDERGRADUATE

FULL-TIME 359
PART-TIME 17

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc.

UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS PROCESS
APPLICATION: Required
ONLINE APPLICATION: Required
APPLICATION FEES: None
HOME EXAM: Not Required
INTERVIEW: Not Required
ESSAY: Required
SAT / ACT: Not Required
PORTFOLIO: Required
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION: N/A
IELTS: N/A
TOEFL: N/A

TRANSCRIPTS

HIGH SCHOOL: Required
COLLEGE: Required, if transferring
FACULTY: 2022-2023

FACULTY FTE1 = N/A

FULL-TIME 0
PART-TIME 0
 

STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO: FALL 2022
N/A
FTE STUDENTS PER FTE FACULTY1

RETENTION

FRESHMAN RETENTION

FALL 2020 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2021
0%
 
FALL 2021 FRESHMEN
RETURNING IN FALL 2022
69%
GRADUATION

SIX-YEAR GRADUATION RATE

FALL 2015 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
0%
 
FALL 2016 FRESHMEN
GRADUATING WITHIN SIX YEARS
 
43%

UNDERGRADUATE ETHNICITY

FALL 2022

UNDERGRADUATE GENDER DISTRIBUTION

FALL 2022

NEW STUDENT GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION2

FALL 2022
OTHER PROGRAMS

Continuing Education
Pre-College Studios
Summer Institutes/Intensives
Post-Baccalaureate Residency
Pensole Design Intensive
Community Education programs for learners of all ages

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES

Joint MFA Degree in Applied Craft & Design with Oregon College of Art and Craft
Study Abroad
Internships
Career Service Office
Joint BFA Degree with Reed College
Art and Science Initiative partners with NOAA and OMSI for student residencies and art and pedagogical projects
Global Studios offers international study experiences
Make + Think + Code is a center for art and emerging technologies

NOTE 1: "Full-Time Equivalent" is the common way to measure the relative size of colleges. This adjusts for differences in the percentage of part-time students (or faculty). For example: one full-time student = 1 FTE; three half-time students = 1.5 FTE, etc. NOTE 2: Geographic distribution is reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates. NOTE 3: Includes all institutional scholarships and grants, but does not include College Work Study or third party awards.