Non-Profit Private
Accredited ·
Seattle, Washington
70.5% Acceptance Rate
Cornish College of the Arts — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
70.5%Acceptance Rate
$55,150Annual Cost
$33,696Grad Salary
30%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
70.5%
Selectivity
Somewhat Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Need-Based Aid
30% receive Pell
Cornish College of the Arts' campus spans Seattle's arts district, with the historic Kerry Hall (a former girls' school) housing dance programs and the new Raisbeck Aviation High School building hosting visual arts. The college's 'Arts in Community' program partners with 100+ local organizations.
Unique offerings include the 'Artist as Entrepreneur' series and the annual Cornish Art Walk showcasing student work. The college maintains a 7:1 student-faculty ratio in studio courses, ensuring intensive mentorship from working artists and performers.
Cornish College of the Arts Acceptance Rate
Cornish College of the Arts is somewhat selective in its admission process. The acceptance rate of Cornish College of the Arts is 70.5%. This means that 71 out of every 100 applicants get admitted.
Admissions Guidelines
- Broad Evaluation: Personal growth and vocational goals are considered alongside grades.
- Flexible Standards: Strengths in extracurriculars can often balance an average GPA.
Selectivity at a Glance
Somewhat Selective
Selectivity scale: Somewhat Selective — 70.5% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Cornish College of the Arts
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Cornish College of the Arts's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Cornish College of the Arts Test Requirements
In this competitive environment, standardized scores are no longer elective; they serve as a critical standardized benchmark to validate high school GPA and course rigor. Applicants should aim for scores within or above the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class to remain viable in the Holistic Review process. At institutions that remain test-optional, submitting a high-percentile score is still the primary strategy for securing merit-based scholarships and distinguishing one's profile in a high-volume applicant pool.
Can I Get Into Cornish College of the Arts Without SAT or ACT?
Cornish College of the Arts does not require admission test scores (SAT/ACT) during the application process and does not recommend that students provide these scores. But it is better to submit the test score if you have performed well in the test. It gives an extra opportunity to showcase your skills and competencies and hence will improve your chances of admission. It is advisable to appear multiple times in the test unless you score well above the average SAT / ACT score of the admitted students. Normally, students may appear in the test 2 to 3 times to improve their scores. But if your score is not up to the mark and is less than the national or state average, then it is better not to submit the score as it will impact negatively.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Cornish College of the Arts
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Cornish College of the Arts is accessible to students who show core competency. The focus should be on proving readiness for college-level work and securing financial aid.
Understand the Institutional Status Change - You Are Now Applying to Seattle University, Not Independent Cornish
Cornish College of the Arts ceased to exist as an independent institution on June 2, 2025, when it was absorbed by Seattle University through an asset contribution. New students applying for Fall 2026 and beyond are Seattle University students enrolling in the Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University (CCA@SU), which operates on the South Lake Union campus at 1000 Lenora Street. Degrees are issued by Seattle University - not by a standalone Cornish institution. Applications go through the Common Application using Seattle University as the institution, followed by access to the Redhawk Admissions Portal for portfolio and audition submission. Students will have full access to Seattle University's services, financial aid, health services, and student life regardless of which Cornish program they pursue. The South Lake Union campus is connected to Seattle University's First Hill main campus by dedicated shuttle service. Confirm with SU admissions exactly which specific BFA programs are currently active and fully staffed for your intended fall entry term, as the post-merger integration of some programs is still being phased in.
Submit the Portfolio Certification Form in the Redhawk Portal - Your Portfolio Will Not Be Reviewed Without It
Every CCA@SU applicant must complete an audition or submit a portfolio - this is a non-negotiable requirement for all Cornish programs. After submitting your Seattle University application through Common App, you will receive login credentials for the Redhawk Admissions Portal within a few days. Your portfolio items are uploaded in that portal, but the portfolio will not be sent to faculty for review until you separately submit the Portfolio Certification Form, also located in the Redhawk portal. This is a two-step process and the second step - the certification form - is the one applicants most commonly miss or complete late. An application that is fully uploaded but lacks the Portfolio Certification Form submission sits invisible to the faculty review committee. Submit the form the same day you finish uploading your portfolio items. Do not wait for a confirmation email to prompt you - check the portal directly to confirm the submission status of your certification form.
Meet the November 15 Early Action Deadline - It Matters More Here Than at Comparable Programs
CCA@SU offers two primary decision timelines: Early Action with a November 15 deadline (decisions in late December) and Regular Decision with a January 15 deadline (decisions in early March). At most colleges, Early Action is primarily a strategic advantage in terms of financial aid timing. At a program-specific arts college operating at small cohort scale, the November 15 deadline has an additional dimension: it allows faculty reviewers more time with your portfolio before admission decisions are locked, and it places you in a smaller review pool relative to the January wave. For performance-based programs (theater, dance, music) where auditions must be scheduled and may have limited slots, applying by November 15 ensures you can schedule your audition at a time that shows your best preparation rather than scrambling for whatever slot remains in late January. Students who apply by November 15 also receive scholarship consideration alongside admissions decisions rather than on a rolling basis afterward.
Write Your Artist Statement for Faculty Eyes, Not Admissions Staff Eyes
Every CCA@SU applicant submits a 250?500 word Artist Statement describing their creative work, influences, process, and goals - including performances, exhibitions, community projects, and any experiences that shaped their artistic development. This statement is reviewed by Cornish program faculty, not just the admissions staff, making it a genuinely different kind of document from a standard college essay. The faculty reading your statement are practicing artists and educators in your specific discipline - they are not looking for broad personal growth narratives. They are assessing whether you understand your own creative process, whether you have developed a perspective and practice, and whether you can articulate where you want your work to go. A statement that reads as a college essay about perseverance will land differently than one that speaks the language of your specific discipline with precision and authenticity. Before writing your statement, read three or four interviews with working artists in your field and notice how they talk about their work - that is the register your statement should aim for.
Expert Insight:
The Cornish-SU merger in June 2025 was driven primarily by Cornish's precarious financial position - a decade of budget deficits, declining enrollment, and the 2024 sale of Kerry Hall, a historic dance building. Some continuing Cornish students left specifically because they did not want to attend a Jesuit Catholic university, citing concerns about the institutional values context for LGBTQ+ students and students of color, who had historically made up a large portion of Cornish's independent student body. This concern is documented in student accounts and Seattle University's own student newspaper coverage. Seattle University is an accredited, academically strong institution with an explicit nondiscrimination policy and an active LGBTQ+ student community - but incoming students should independently research SU's community culture and campus climate resources for these populations before enrolling, rather than relying solely on admissions materials. The merger is complete and will not be reversed; this due diligence is about informed fit, not institutional risk.
Cornish College of the Arts Profile
Full Name
Cornish College of the Arts
City
Seattle
State
Washington
ZIP Code
98121
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Is a Cornish College of the Arts Degree Worth It?
Getting into Cornish College of the Arts can be a great opportunity for many students. It is a prestigious institution known for its strong programs. However, whether it is worth it depends on your personal and academic goals, as well as your financial situation. Cornish College of the Arts offers a rigorous academic environment and access to cutting-edge research, but it may not be the best fit for everyone. It's important to consider factors such as cost, location, and specific academic programs when making this decision.
Please note that the average household income of the admitted students at Cornish College of the Arts is $69,800 and the graduate unemployment rate is 3.43%.
How much does a degree from Cornish College of the Arts Cost?
The average annual cost of the degree at Cornish College of the Arts is $55,150. As most of the students receive Pell Grants and Federal Grants the average annual net price a student has to pay at Cornish College of the Arts is much less than this.
30% of the students are receiving Pell Grant and 72.9 percent are receiving Federal Grants. So it is a better choice to go to Cornish College of the Arts and apply for PELL or federal loan grants.
At Cornish College of the Arts, you will have no problem receiving any scholarship from the federal government. Fill in the FAFSA application form at the earliest and enlist Cornish College of the Arts as your choice in the form.
How much does a Cornish College of the Arts Graduate earn?
The average annual salary of the graduate after 4–6 years of graduation is $33,696. An average Cornish College of the Arts graduate makes this much after 10 years of enrollment (4–6 years after graduation).
The average annual income of a graduate in the United States is $40,595.
Degree Programs at Cornish College of the Arts
Bachelor Degree Programs
Post-baccalaureate Certificate Programs
Professional Certificate Programs
Full list of all degree programs offered by Cornish College of the Arts →
Frequently Asked Questions About Cornish College of the Arts Admissions
Graduates of this university typically earn a lower salary, $33,696 annually, especially in non-technical fields.
The tuition fee at this university is quite high, approximately $55,150 or more per year, so it is important to consider additional funding options.
30.0% of students receive a Pell Grant at this institution. Your chances of need-based aid are moderate and depend primarily on your household income. Filing FAFSA early significantly improves your chances of receiving the maximum available grant amount.
The acceptance rate of Cornish College of the Arts is 70.5% which is relatively high, above 20%, making it somewhat easier to gain admission compared to other top-tier universities.
Yes, many students successfully transfer each year. Be prepared with your academic transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement to make your application competitive.
To improve your chances, focus on excelling academically, building a strong extracurricular profile, and submitting standout essays. High SAT/ACT scores are also crucial for competitive admissions.