Campus tours available at 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday weekly. Saturday Preview Days; see (https://www.digipen.edu/visit-us ) for specific event days.
Racial-ethnic background of undergraduate students
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Less than 1%
Asian
6%
Black
Less than 1%
Hispanic
6%
Multiracial
5%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
Less than 1%
White
50%
Race/ethnicity unknown
19%
These figures reflect responses of people who chose to indicate their racial-ethnic background. All categories except Hispanic represent non-Hispanic students. International students are not included in these figures so they may not add up to 100 percent.
Annual costs for full-time undergraduate students
(Costs are for the 2019-2020 academic year. Full-time costs are based on 40-semester credits per year.)
In-state tuition
$32,400
Out-of-state tuition
$32,400
Fees
$200
Books and supplies
$1,080
Other required expenses
$150 enrollment fee upon admission to a program
Room and board (live on campus)*
About $7,700 an academic year
Board and transportation (live with parents)
$5,923
* Room and board costs may vary by housing facility and number of meals in meal plan
Financial aid awarded to undergraduates
(Financial aid data are for the 2018-2019 academic year.)
Average financial aid package awarded to freshmen
$6,702
For freshmen, percentage of need* met by aid package
19%
Average amount of financial aid awarded to freshmen
Loan
$3,320
Scholarship or grant
$6,961
Work study
$0
Average financial aid package awarded to undergraduates (including freshmen)
$7,966
For all undergraduates, percentage of need* met by aid package
24%
Average amount of financial aid awarded to undergraduates
Loan
$3,695
Scholarship or grant
$7,860
Work study
$2,000
* "Need" as defined for financial aid results from a formula based on a student's situation. The formula considers family and student income, family size, unusual expenses, and the school's costs.
Who received financial aid
Number of freshmen who applied for aid
199
Number of freshmen who received aid
142
Number of undergraduates who applied for aid
592
Number of undergraduates who received aid
473
Loans
Percentage of students who took out loans to pay for school
61%
Average student loan debt for last graduating class
$28,539
Financial aid programs at this school
Loans
Federal PLUS loans (for parents)
Federal Stafford loans (subsidized)
Federal Stafford loans (unsubsidized)
Private Lenders
Need-based scholarships and grants
Federal Pell Grants
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Privately-sponsored scholarships and grants
School-sponsored scholarships and grants
State-sponsored scholarships and grants
Washington State Need Grant Program
Merit-based scholarships and grants
School-sponsored scholarships in academics
School-sponsored scholarships in art
School-sponsored scholarships in special achievements
Student employment
Work study
Veteran's benefits
Veteran's benefits, such as the GI Bill, are honored
Applicants who visit the campus can receive an application fee waiver. Additionally, those who have financial need can provide DigiPen with waivers from the College Board or from their high school counselors.
Submit these items:
Application
Required for all students
High school GPA
2.5, required for all students
High school transcript or GED certificate
Required for all students
Letters of recommendation
2, recommended, but not required
Written essay or personal statement
Required for all students
Other application materials
Pre-calculus for Bachelor of Science, art portfolio for BFA in Digital Art and Animation, performance portfolio for BA in Music and Sound Design, design portfolio for Bachelor of Art in Game Design, required for some students
Exams
Required exams
SAT or ACT required for most undergraduate applicants.
Factors considered by schools when evaluating applicants
High school GPA
Important
Difficulty of high school courses
Important
Standardized test scores
Important
High school class rank
Not considered
Recommendations
Considered
Application essay
Important
Character/personal qualities
Considered
Talent or ability
Important
Extracurricular activities
Considered
Level of applicant's interest
Important
Religious affiliation/commitment
Not considered
Work experience
Considered
Related to a school graduate
Not considered
First generation college student
Not considered
Racial/ethnic group
Not considered
Other admissions information
Accepted students can defer admission for a period of time
Transfer student admissions
Age limit on courses to be transferred
10 years
Credits accepted for transfer students
College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) subject
Test scores of freshmen who enrolled at the school
Average SAT evidence-based reading and writing score
638
Average SAT math score
634
Average ACT score
27
Undergraduate retention and graduation
Percentage of freshmen who returned for their sophomore year
Required number of credits for a bachelor's degree
131-143
All students must meet:
Senior project requirement
For all students
Attendance options
Summer school
Optional academic programs
Accelerated degree
Graduate courses open to undergraduates
3-2 degree programs
3-2 degree programs (three-year bachelor's degree and two-year master's degree) are available
Ours is a 4+1 program where students who complete our Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation program may complete their Master of Science in Computer Science in one additional year.
Off-campus study
In these countries
Singapore, Spain
Alternative credit opportunities
Advanced Placement
Challenge Level Examination Program (CLEP)
Cooperative education
Independent study
International Baccalaureate
Internships
Postsecondary enrollment options (high school students can enroll for credit)
Closed campus only accessible by approved badge access. Also, DigiPen has a school shuttle that can drive students to and from nearby area housing complexes.
Costs for full-time graduate students
(Costs are for the 2019-2020 academic year. Full-time costs are based on 18-30 credits per year.)
In-state tuition*
$27,000
Out-of-state tuition*
$27,000
Fees
$200
Books and supplies
$1,080
* Tuition may vary by program
Cost per credit is $1,125 for US residents and $1,225 for non-US residents. Flat-rate fee for 12-18 credits is $13,500 for US residents and $14,600 for non-US residents. The Master of Science program is a total of 37 credits. The Master of Fine Arts program is a total of 60 credits.
Continuous until July 1st of each year, after which time school cannot guarantee consideration for the fall, but will consider the application for the next available intake.
