Cornish and Seattle U announce plans to merge as higher ed storm looms

Two of Seattle's private colleges are merging — Seattle University and Cornish College of the Arts.

A lot of the details are still being worked out, but the two colleges signed a letter of intent to essentially combine under one umbrella.

Cornish would eventually become "Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University." Cornish students would continue to attend classes on their current South Lake Union campus, but could also take courses at Seattle University, and vice versa.

Emily Parkhust, Cornish's interim president, said the deal opens new doors for the tiny school's nearly 500 students.

"This strategic combination will allow our students opportunities that we simply weren't able to offer and provide at a small arts college," she said. "Such as the opportunity to take business classes, computer courses, pursue master's degree programs, engage in college sports — and even swim in a pool."

This move comes as the nation's higher education sector is shrinking, as universities and colleges grapple with slipping enrollment and financial problems. Some colleges have merged because of these challenges. Others have closed entirely.

Cornish and Seattle University have not been immune from these difficulties. Cornish declared it was undergoing a financial emergency in 2020, and this year, Seattle University paused hiring as it faces a $7.5 million deficit.

But Seattle University President Eduardo Peñalver said the deal isn't being made out of financial necessity. He said it's a fiscal win for both schools, because they can share the cost of expensive services and programs, like study abroad.

“There are real financial benefits to institutions of higher education growing in scale," he said, "because the larger scale allows you to spread the cost of running a university over a larger number of students and faculty and staff."

The deal likely won't be finalized for another two years, but officials hope students can take advantage of those opportunities sooner than that.

The agreement is expected to be finalized in March. Then, the colleges will seek approval from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the U.S. Department of Education, which alone may take over a year.

Officials couldn't yet say what other changes are on the horizon — including possible cuts to staff or programs.