“Seattle's century-old arts conservatory — producing professional artists across performance, design, and visual arts since 1914.”
Cornish College of the Arts was Seattle's dedicated professional arts conservatory, founded in 1914 by music teacher Nellie Cornish as the Cornish School of Music in Capitol Hill. Over more than a century, the institution grew from a small studio into one of the Pacific Northwest's most celebrated arts colleges, with historical connections to legendary figures such as painter Mark Tobey, choreographer Martha Graham (faculty), and composer John Cage. In June 2025, Cornish contributed its assets, programs, facilities, and intellectual property to Seattle University — a private Jesuit institution — and now operates as Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University. Students who enrolled prior to Fall 2026 are completing their degrees under a teach-out agreement with minimal classroom disruption; future integration will deepen ties between Cornish arts programming and Seattle University's broader curriculum. Academically, Cornish offered rigorous Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Bachelor of Music (BM) degrees across eight creative disciplines: Art, Dance, Design, Film, Interior Architecture, Music, Performance Production, and Theater. The curriculum was conservatory-style and intensely studio-focused, with an average class size of 15 students and close faculty mentorship from working arts professionals. Over 22 specializations were available, including Acting, Composition, Costume Design, Digital Media, Drawing, Film + Media, Interior Architecture, Lighting Design, Motion Design, Painting, Photography, Scenic Design, Sculpture, Sound Design, Stage Management, Technical Direction, Video Art, and Visual Communication Design. With approximately 502 undergraduates and an international enrollment rate above 20%, Cornish attracted students from across the globe to train in one of America's most vibrant creative cities. Located in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood — home to Amazon's headquarters and a booming technology and creative economy — Cornish students had unparalleled access to professional internships, galleries, film studios, theaters, and design firms within walking distance of campus buildings. The 20-story Cornish Commons residence hall housed up to 430 students, creating a tight-knit residential arts community. Seattle's cultural richness, world-class performing arts venues, and major tech employers provided exceptional career launching pads for graduates across all creative disciplines. Though Cornish no longer operates as an independent institution, its legacy of professional arts training continues under the Seattle University banner.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Early Action
Admissions reply sent in early March; no binding commitment
Regular Decision
Applications considered after Feb 15 on a space-available basis
Theater Early Action (Audition)
Recorded video audition submission deadline for Theater Early Action applicants
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$41,684
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Studio-intensive programs in drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, and video art.
Professional design programs preparing students for careers in visual communication, motion, and digital media.
Conservatory-style training in performance, composition, and music theory through the Bachelor of Music degree.
Rigorous actor training rooted in technique, collaboration, and professional readiness.
Professional dance training integrating technique, choreography, and performance.
Hands-on filmmaking and media production rooted in storytelling and technical craft.
Design-focused program exploring the intersection of space, light, and human experience.
Technical and design programs that support all areas of live performance production.
4 years
A BFA program training designers for careers in branding, typography, and digital communication, with studio critique and real-world project work at its core.
4 years
An audition-required BFA program providing rigorous conservatory training in technique, voice, movement, and professional collaboration for stage and screen.
4 years
A hands-on program covering screenwriting, directing, cinematography, and post-production, leveraging Seattle's growing film and media industry for real-world exposure.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $41,684
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
