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Admissions

Application Deadlines

December 1 - Early Action

February 15 - Application Deadline

After February 15 - Rolling Admissions
Applications will be considered after February 15, pending space availability.

Contact Information

Office of Admission
Cornish College of the Arts
1000 Lenora Street
Seattle, WA 98121
Phone 206.726.5016
Fax 206.720.1011
Email admisson@cornish.edu

Web www.cornish.edu/admission

Application Requirements

  • Cornish Application for Admission

  • Application Fee

  • Official High School Transcript or GED Score Report

  • Official College transcripts, if applicable

  • Artist Statement/Personal Essay

  • Letter of Recommendation

  • Audition or Portfolio Review

  • SAT/ACT - optional

All prospective students must have graduated from high school or completed a high school equivalency program prior to enrollment.

Home-schooled applicants' transcripts will be evaluated on an individual basis. Applicants should supply as much information as possible about their home school experience, including course descriptions, reading lists, textbooks used, etc. If courses are completed at a high school or community college, submit those official documents as well. 

Audition/Portfolio Review

Each department has specific requirements. Please see the portfolio requirements here: https://www.cornish.edu/audition-and-portfolio-main/.

Transfer Applicants

Applicants who have completed high school and have earned the equivalent of at least 15-semester credits are considered transfer applicants. Transfer applicants complete the same process as first-year students. Transfer applicants should send official copies of transcripts from all colleges attended.

Transfer credit is based upon the review of official college transcripts, plus the audition or portfolio review.

International Applicants

In addition to the Application Requirements and Audition/Portfolio Review, applicants who do not speak English as their native and current language must also demonstrate English proficiency. Exam scores will be accepted from TOEFL, IELTS, and Pearsons. Cornish requires these exam scores or completion of the Prep Pathway at Seattle Central College in order to begin classes.

Transfer/Nontraditional Credits

Cornish College of the Arts awards transfer credit for these traditional and non-traditional learning experiences:

  • Advanced Placement exams

  • College-level Examination Program

  • College-level (non-remedial) courses

  • Credit by exam

  • International Baccalaureate exams

  • Prior learning experience

  • "College in the high school” programs (example, Running Start)

Cornish policies for the award and evaluation of transfer and nontraditional credit are fully described under 

Returning Student Admission

Students who have withdrawn from the College or do not elect to return from a Leave of Absence must apply for readmission by submitting an Application to the Office of Admission. If students have taken courses for credit at another college during their absence from Cornish, they must submit official academic transcripts from those institutions. Returning students should apply for admission and financial aid simultaneously. Cornish may require the student to schedule an audition or portfolio review. 

Non-matriculated Enrollment

Students interested in taking classes without pursuing a degree from Cornish may take classes through our non-matriculated program. Registration for classes is through Registration & Records. No financial assistance is available for non-matriculated coursework.

Veterans Education Benefits/Yellow Ribbon

Eligible students should apply for their VA educational benefits through the VA at the same time they apply to the College. Cornish will need a copy of the Certificate of Eligibility prior to the start of the first term in order to initiate benefits. New students should be prepared to accommodate a possible delay of at least two months between the start of the term and receipt of benefits. Families with Post-9/11 VA educational benefits may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon program and should contact the Registration & Records Office for more information. Yellow Ribbon benefits may affect other types of financial aid or prior offers of aid. Total Cornish and Veterans Yellow Ribbon contributions cannot exceed unmet tuition and mandatory fees for the year.

Any student using CH31 (Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment benefits), CH33 (Post-9/11) and CH35 (Survivors’ and Dependents’ Educational Assistance program) is protected from any penalties imposed by the College while waiting for the VA to make tuition and fee payments. The College cannot deny a student access to classrooms, libraries, or other institutional facilities. The College cannot make the student borrow money to cover costs while waiting for payment, nor can the College charge a student a late fee or penalty. For more information regarding this policy, contact the School Certifying Official (SCO). 

VA SCO Contact Information

Office of Registration & Records
Cornish College of the Arts
1000 Lenora Street
Seattle, WA 98121
Email veterans@cornish.edu
Phone 206.726.5058

College Credits Earned During High School

Students who have participated in Running Start (or similar in high school programs) should apply to the College as incoming freshmen. To receive credit for college-level work, students must submit official transcripts from the college or university where they completed the courses.