SEATTLE — Cornish College of the Arts has announced it plans to join institutions with Seattle University.
The two campuses, located in downtown Seattle, are considering a plan for Cornish to become part of Seattle University, eventually becoming the Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University.
“Seattle University joining forces with Cornish will combine two storied Seattle institutions of higher learning into one,” said SU President Eduardo Peñalver. “It will create incredible new opportunities for our students to expand their educational horizons and for faculty to pursue innovative interdisciplinary collaborations. This is definitely a case of ‘one plus one equals three.’”
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Cornish is situated in the Capitol Hill and South Lake Union areas, while Seattle University is in the Capitol Hill and First Hill area.
Leaders from both institutions have signed a letter of intent, which outlines the potential merger.
“A letter of intent isn’t legally binding, but it is a really important first step in the process of combining our institutions. We have a lot of steps after this, but we’re really excited,” said a representative from the institutions.
Both universities stated that the partnership aims to expand resources for students and offer new opportunities. A definitive agreement is anticipated by spring 2025, with full integration expected by mid-2026.
“Cornish and Seattle University have many shared values, including the utmost dedication to our students,” said Cornish College of the Arts Interim President Emily Parkhurst. “We are excited about the prospect of joining with such a well-respected and mission-driven institution to provide a robust fine arts education in downtown Seattle and continue the mission of our founder, Nellie Cornish, who believed in education through exposure to all the arts.”