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Willamette University

Pre-College Programs at PNCA

Art, design, and animation courses for high school students ages 14-18

Pre-College at Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA) in Portland, Oregon is a unique way for high school students to develop portfolios, build creative confidence, and experience life at one of the top ranked art and design schools in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.

In Pre-College programs, students learn from a rich creative community of professional artists, illustrators, animators, and designers, combining hands-on instruction with mentorship and real-world relevance. 

Pre-College questions? Email PNCA Community Education at pnca-community-education@willamette.edu.

A student working on an art project at PNCA

Summer Programs

Spend your summer at PNCA and experience art and design school firsthand. Dive into technical skillbuilding, portfolio prep, and studio art practice with the support of PNCA professors and industry-leading guest artists. Summer programs are open to students ages 14-18 who have completed at least one year of high school. Limited, need-based scholarships and payment plans are available.

  • Summer Intensives

    Summer Intensives are two-week, full-time sampler programs. You’ll spend the first week in studio workshops, learning foundational skills and exploring various mediums. During the second week, you’ll create new work and curate a group exhibition in a gallery or theater space at PNCA. At the end of each Intensive, you’ll meet 1:1 with PNCA Admissions for a portfolio review, complete a final critique, and trade riso-printed trading cards. 

  • Summer Studios

    Summer Studios are one-week, full-time programs, with a focus on one particular discipline. You’ll spend each day experimenting with a different medium, technique, or tool, without the pressure of a final project. Summer Studios are a great way to see if a certain discipline interests you, or go deeper into one specific topic than an Intensive allows.

Whether you’re exploring a future in art and design, or just want to gain confidence in your creative abilities, summer at PNCA is the perfect way to get started.

Applications Open Fall 2026

Deadlines

Summer applications are accepted on a rolling basis until programs are full. If your application is accepted, you will be emailed a link to register and pay. Payment plans and need-based scholarships are available (please see instructions for each in the application). 

Register by April 11, 2027 for a 10% Early Registration Discount on Summer program tuition. To allow time for your early application to process, please apply by March 28, 2027 at the latest.

  • Early Application Deadline: Sunday, March 28, 2027
  • Early Registration Deadline (discounted tuition): Sunday, April 11, 2027
  • Application Deadline: Sunday, May 2, 2027
  • Registration Deadline: Sunday, June 6, 2027
A student drawing a bull with a yellow background in a classroom

Programs

A two-week sampler of college-level studio art classes. Explore drawing, painting, ceramics, mixed media, digital tools, and more, alongside optional craft workshops. At the end of Week 2, you’ll curate and present a group exhibition in one of PNCA’s galleries. This Intensive is ideal for young artists looking to strengthen their portfolio and develop their style.

  • Session 1: July 12-23, 2027 (9am-4:30pm, M-F)
  • Session 2: July 26 - August 6, 2027 (9am-4:30pm, M-F)

A two-week sampler of college-level animated arts classes. You’ll experiment with stop-motion– including object animation, claymation, and pixelation, 2D hand-drawn and digital animation, sound, and effects, while practicing animation principles and using industry-standard software. At the end of Week 2, you’ll present an animated short on the big screen. This Intensive is ideal for aspiring animators looking to try new mediums and refine their skills.

  • July 12-23, 2027 (9am-4:30pm, M-F)

A one-week studio session exploring illustration, from the observational to the imaginative. This Studio is ideal for students who love to draw, aspiring illustrators, and Foundation or Animation Intensive students who want to deepen their illustration practice over the summer. 

  • July 26-30, 2027 (9am-4:30pm, M-F)

A one-week studio session exploring various animation mediums, including stop-motion, 2D, and digital. This Studio is ideal for aspiring animators, young people interested in the animated arts, and Foundation Intensive students looking to gain some animation experience without the pressure of a bigger project.

  • August 2-6, 2027 (9am-4:30pm, M-F)

Tuition

Tuition includes all required materials and supplies. Tuition for Summer 2027 will be announced when applications open in Fall.

A student painting while looking at the Old Town Portland Oregon sign on a phone

Resources

See sample syllabi, program policies, and FAQs. Further questions? You can reach our team at any time at pnca-community-education@willamette.edu.

Pre-College Information

Saturday Classes

Single-day Saturday classes are ideal for young creatives with varied interests and busy schedules. Limited, need-based scholarships and bundle discounts are available!

A group of students working together on an art assignment

Why Choose Pre-College at PNCA?

  • Choose your own adventure with single- and multi-day programs that bridge studio art, animation, media, and design
  • Learn directly from professional creatives working in the industry today
  • Boost your portfolio for college applications
  • Connect with a community of emerging artists and designers at PNCA’s downtown Portland campus, the front porch of Portland’s vibrant art scene
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Willamette University

PNCA Pre-College Programs