Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Cornish College of the Arts #1473 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $40,939, placing Cornish College of the Arts in the 1.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Cornish College of the Arts sits in the 2.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Cornish College of the Arts #1473 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Seattle, WA, Cornish College of the Arts enrolls roughly 488 undergraduates. Retention is 69.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 56.4%, reflecting strong persistence and completion outcomes for a specialized arts institution. Where Cornish College of the Arts performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Cornish College of the Arts #1422 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $29,981 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cornish College of the Arts in the 2.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance is notable for an institution focused on Visual & Performing Arts, where career pathways often emphasize creative practice and portfolio-building over conventional salary trajectories. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Cornish College of the Arts sits in the 21.0 percentile for access and the 2.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 29.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.6% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student population with meaningful financial need. Mobility sits in the 25.6 percentile, indicating that while graduates achieve strong earnings relative to expectations, the institution serves a smaller cohort than larger peer institutions and operates within the economic realities of arts-focused degree programs.
Cornish College of the Arts's published cost of attendance is $60,273. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $31,806, mid-low-income families pay around $32,992, middle-income families pay about $34,781, mid-high-income families pay approximately $42,906, and higher-income families pay around $47,206. Azimuth ranks Cornish College of the Arts #1393 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, as net price and sticker price can differ substantially, shaping long-term financial outcomes. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $66,828; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at Cornish College of the Arts's median four-year earnings of $40,939, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $38,266 would substantially tighten the repayment picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Cornish College of the Arts is a strong fit for students passionate about the visual and performing arts who want a focused conservatory-style experience in Seattle, WA. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $40,939, placing Cornish College of the Arts in the 1.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $29,981 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cornish College of the Arts in the 2.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 29.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 22.6% are first-generation — and delivers completion rates for Pell students of 57.3%. Published cost of attendance is $47,206, with median federal debt at graduation of $27,000. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 62.2% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix is concentrated in Visual & Performing Arts (98% of degrees). Students whose interests align with these creative fields will find a focused pathway to artistic careers.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Cornish College Of The Arts hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pennsylvania Academy Of The Fine Arts Higher acceptance rate (17 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | PA | 88% | $29,881 | Compare |
Hebrew Theological College Higher acceptance rate (21.5 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | IL | 92% | $33,291 | Compare |
Pacific Northwest College Of Art Same region with nearly identical earnings and similar program focus; same institution type | OR | 69% | $34,883 | Compare |
Sum Bible College And Theological Seminary Same region with similar earnings; same institution type | CA | 64% | $35,418 | Compare |
Columbus College Of Art & Design Similar admission rate (1.3 percentage points difference) with similar program focus | OH | 72% | $40,664 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Academy Of Dramatic Arts-New York Similar quality tier (#36295 ranked) | NY | 92% | $27,019 | #36295 | Compare |
Beacon College Similar quality tier (#36297 ranked) | FL | 43% | $29,420 | #36297 | Compare |
Toccoa Falls College Similar quality tier (#36291 ranked) | GA | 66% | $36,630 | #36291 | Compare |
Young Harris College Similar quality tier (#36286 ranked) | GA | 63% | $47,195 | #36286 | Compare |
Dean College Similar quality tier (#36285 ranked) | MA | 74% | $38,109 | #36285 | Compare |
Design and Applied Arts
38 graduates
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
26 graduates
Fine and Studio Arts
17 graduates
Dance
8 graduates
Music
15 graduates
Cornish College of the Arts is anchored in visual and performing arts, a program portfolio shaped by the institution's identity as a specialized arts conservatory. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 38 graduates, followed by Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft with 26 graduates, Fine and Studio Arts with 17 graduates, Music, and Dance.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 112 students annually, earnings vary considerably by discipline and career pathway. The highest-earning programs cluster in design and technology-adjacent fields.
Design and Applied Arts leads with median earnings of $53,773 four years after enrollment across 38 graduates, while Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft graduates earn $43,576 and Fine and Studio Arts graduates earn $39,242. These fields reflect the intersection of creative practice with applied professional skills — areas where arts training translates directly into stable employment in Seattle's creative industries and broader design economy.
Dance rounds out the top earners with graduates earning $34,503. The earnings pattern at Cornish College of the Arts reflects the reality of arts-focused institutions: some graduates pursue high-mobility creative and design careers with strong four-year earnings, while others enter grad-school-dependent pathways in fine arts, performance, and music where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory because many continue to graduate study, artist residencies, or performance careers that build over time.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how creative-industry fields align with regional labor-market conditions in the Pacific Northwest.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Cornish College of the Arts's published cost of attendance is $60,273. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $31,806, mid-low-income families pay around $32,992, middle-income families pay about $34,781, mid-high-income families pay approximately $42,906, and higher-income families pay around $47,206.
Azimuth ranks Cornish College of the Arts #1393 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. The affordability rank reflects both the sticker price and the debt load graduates carry, as [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), shaping long-term financial outcomes.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $66,828; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For the typical graduate at Cornish College of the Arts's median four-year earnings of $40,939, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment.
In a downside earnings scenario anchored on lower-earning program clusters, four-year earnings of $38,266 would substantially tighten the repayment picture — a pattern worth exploring at the program level rather than the institutional average. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Cornish College of the Arts earn median 4-year earnings of $40,939, placing Cornish College of the Arts in the 1.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $29,981 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Cornish College of the Arts in the 2.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Cornish College of the Arts #1422 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These outcomes reflect the institution's focus on visual and performing arts, where career trajectories and earnings vary significantly by discipline and individual artistic success.
The earnings pattern across Cornish College of the Arts's programs reflects the diversity of creative fields. Design and Applied Arts is the largest program with 38 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $53,773, representing 1.0x the national benchmark for the field.
The Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft program graduates 26 students with median earnings of $43,576, while Fine and Studio Arts and Music round out the core program portfolio. The Dance program graduates 8 students with median 4-year earnings of $34,503.
As a specialized arts institution, Cornish's graduate outcomes depend heavily on individual talent, portfolio strength, and post-graduation career choices in creative industries where earnings growth often extends beyond the immediate post-graduation period.
