Maine College of Art & Design vs Pacific Northwest College of Art

Maine College of Art & Design and Pacific Northwest College of Art are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: Pacific Northwest College of Art is more selective with a 68.5% acceptance rate compared to Maine College of Art & Design's 77.5%.

Cost: Maine College of Art & Design offers a lower average net price at $36,443, which is $4,403 less than Pacific Northwest College of Art ($40,846). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from Maine College of Art & Design earn a median salary of $40,778 ten years after enrollment, which is $5,895 more than Pacific Northwest College of Art graduates ($34,883).

Graduation: Maine College of Art & Design leads with a 48.5% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 77.9% vs 62.9%.

Campus Size: Maine College of Art & Design is the larger campus with 415 total students, while Pacific Northwest College of Art has 412.

Bottom Line: Maine College of Art & Design stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.