Pacific Northwest College of Art vs Carrington College-Portland: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Carrington College-Portland comes closer — median earnings $36,625 against a $146,380 total, vs $34,883 at Pacific Northwest College of Art. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pacific Northwest College of Art | Carrington College-Portland |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $35,785 | $36,595 |
| Total net cost | $143,140 | $146,380 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $34,883 | $36,625 |
| Median debt | $25,000 | $9,295 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$412,680 | -$381,080 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Pacific Northwest College of Art or Carrington College-Portland?
Pacific Northwest College of Art, at $35,785 a year after aid versus $36,595 — a gap of $810 a year, or $3,240 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Pacific Northwest College of Art or Carrington College-Portland graduates earn more?
Carrington College-Portland graduates report a median $36,625 ten years after entry, $1,742 more than the $34,883 at Pacific Northwest College of Art. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Pacific Northwest College of Art or Carrington College-Portland?
Carrington College-Portland: its completers carry a median $9,295 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Pacific Northwest College of Art, a difference of $15,705. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Carrington College-Portland, against 29% at Pacific Northwest College of Art. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.