Administrators at the Seattle-based Cornish College of the Arts announced on Tuesday that the school will reduce its tuition fee by 20 percent for current and new students.
The tuition reduction — which will reset tuition from its current $40,442 to $32,160 for the 2019-2010 academic year — will make the college more accessible and address the concern of growing debt among students.
The announcement makes the college, which already awards over $6 million in scholarships every year, the first art school in the nation to completely reset its tuition pricing.
“Cornish trains world-class performing and visual artists in the heart of Seattle’s urban core. We place a high priority on welcoming students from more diverse backgrounds. By resetting our tuition, we are taking a bold step toward increasing access,” college president Dr. Raymond Tymas-Jones said.
“In a constantly changing and competitive job market, Cornish is committed to producing graduates that have the skills and creative intelligence to build thriving careers and enrich their communities.”
As the tuition reset is implemented, Cornish will coordinate with students on individual financial situations to ensure best support and resources. For the next academic year, the college is also extending the application deadline until March 1, 2019.
In 2018, various colleges and universities including Corban University, Michigan State University, and the Sierra Nevada College reduced or froze their tuition prices.
The Trends in Student Aid and Trends in College Pricing report, released by the non-profit College Board, also showed a steady increase in financial aid and a decrease in loan borrowings by students. The report noted a decline in federal grant money for graduate and undergraduate students in 2017-2018, but at the same time, highlighted a substantial increase in grant aid coming directly from colleges and universities.