Pacific Northwest College of Art vs American Conservatory Theater

Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) and American Conservatory Theater (ACT) are two esteemed institutions offering distinct educational experiences in the arts. PNCA, located in Portland, Oregon, is a private art and design college known for its rigorous fine arts programs, while ACT, based in San Francisco, California, is a renowned performing arts conservatory specializing in theater training. With acceptance rates of 85% and 25%, respectively, PNCA offers a more accessible admissions process compared to ACT's highly selective approach. While PNCA's student body primarily comprises undergraduate students pursuing degrees in visual arts, ACT caters to both undergraduate and graduate students seeking careers in theater and acting. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including popular majors, student demographics, graduation rates, and more, to help you make an informed decision about your artistic education.
American Conservatory Theater logo

American Conservatory Theater

Pacific Northwest College of Art logo

Pacific Northwest College of Art

Overview

Location San Francisco, California Portland, Oregon
Campus setting City: Large City: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 59.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate N/A 97.5%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $90

Graduate: $90
$65
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 364
Total number of admissions given out 355
Admitted students who chose to enroll 64
Yield rate 18.0%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Not required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $51,676 $63,974
Average net price $36,405
Tuition $30,235 $41,768
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Prepaid tuition plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $22,027
Students receiving federal student loan 70.0%
Average amount $5,333
Students taking out private loans 6.0%
Average amount $18,860

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 11
Men 45.5% Women 54.5%
397
Men 29.0% Women 71.0%
Graduate students 13
Men 46.2% Women 53.8%
84
Men 20.2% Women 79.8%
Racial/ethnic diversity N/A
Low
Out-of-state students N/A N/A
International students N/A 4.2%
Campus local/setting City: Large City: Large
Dormitory capacity N/A 130
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A N/A

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • English Language and Literature
Students to faculty ratio 6:1 10:1
Institutional accreditation N/A Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 100.0% 35.7%
Dropout rate N/A 62.9%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $18,087
  • Year 3: $27,588
Design and Applied Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,658
  • Year 3: $39,482
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,535
  • Year 2: $27,494
  • Year 3: $31,458
Fine and Studio Arts (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,540
  • Year 2: $32,029
  • Year 3: $30,660
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,687
  • Year 2: $19,835
  • Year 3: $27,584
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $27,765
  • Year 3: N/A

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