The college admission process is about finding the best program for you. Cornish seeks students with passion for their art form, as well as interest in developing both their creative and technical skills.
Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University will accept applications for Fall 2025 until September 11, 2025. However, our admission process is selective, and each major has limited space, so you benefit by submitting your application as soon as possible.
Click the button below to apply using the Cornish Common App for the 2025-2026 academic year. If you’re interested in attending in Fall 2026, please wait for the new Seattle University application to open on August 1, 2025.
Dates to remember
December 01:
Early Action
Complete all the parts of the application, including an audition or portfolio review, by December 1 and receive an admission decision by mid-December.
February 15:
Application Deadline
Admission decisions will be sent on a rolling basis as files are completed.
After February 15:
Rolling Admission
Applications will be considered after February 15, pending space availability.
All applicants will need to provide the following items for their Application for Admission to be considered complete. Items are grouped by task, not necessarily the order in which they need to be completed.
Apply HereYou can also apply via the Common Application!
Writing is an important part of being an artist and a vital part of your education.
Artist Statement
Use your statement as a way to introduce yourself and your work to us. We are interested in finding out more about you, your art practice and why you consider yourself a strong candidate for Cornish’s program. Please include information about performances, exhibitions, community service projects, and any other activities that have contributed to your work. You may want to address the following questions: What am I doing in terms of my art practice? How am I doing it? Why am I doing it? What influences me? What is next in terms of my work?
An audition or portfolio is required of every applicant before we make a decision. You are able to load the audition or portfolio when you submit Part I or later when you are ready to add it.
See The Audition and Portfolio Review section for details.
$60
Students who are admitted to Cornish, but do not speak English as their native and current language must submit an official score from an English proficiency exam. Our minimum scores are:
Cornish requires these exam scores, or completion of the Prep Pathway at Seattle Central College in order to begin classes.
Additional documents required
If you are pursuing a student visa to study in the United States, Cornish will also request:
Transfer credit may be awarded for college-level, non-remedial coursework with a C grade or better from regionally-accredited colleges or universities.
Schedule a Transfer Advising Session or see Registration + Records for details on transferring to Cornish
These must be issued to Cornish directly from the institution or testing center. You may use a Transcript Request Form to give to your school. The form contains all the instructions they will need to submit to us.
Click here for the High School Transfer Request Form
Check here for the College/University Transfer Request Form
Official College/University Transcripts are required if you have completed any college or university courses.
Optional – Submit one letter of recommendation from an instructor or other professional familiar with your work (e.g. an art teacher, dance instructor, etc.) who can evaluate your technical skills, motivation, commitment, maturity, and potential to succeed at Cornish.
While Cornish does not require an SAT/ACT test score, we highly recommend students submit their SAT and/or ACT test score if they have one.
The Cornish code for SAT is 0058 and the Cornish code for ACT is 4501.
Even after you submit your application you can upload documents, files, new portfolio or audition pieces, and make changes at any time during the application process.
A campus visit is the best way to see if Cornish is the choice for you.
Schedule a Tour
