Student Consumer Information Guide
In accordance with the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), DigiPen is required to disclose consumer information regarding its programs, policies, educational resources, and student body. Below, you will find an alphabetical list containing this information, including links to related materials.
For additional information, please refer to the DigiPen Course Catalog.
Contact Information
To learn more or to request a printed copy of the Course Catalog, Annual Security Report, or Disclosures included on this page, please contact:
Angela Kugler
EVP of Administration and Operations
Gary Oyler
Registrar
Robin Reid
Associate Vice President of Compliance
Accreditation and Degree Authorization
Accreditation - DigiPen Institute of Technology is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (“ACCSC”). ACCSC is a recognized institutional accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education.
Read more about DigiPen’s accreditation
Degree Authorization - In accordance with the Degree-Granting Institutions Act Regulations (WAC 250-61-060 (3), DigiPen Institute of Technology is considered to be an eligible institution exempted from degree authorization requirements by the Washington Student Achievement Council effective November 1, 2012.
Read more about DigiPen’s degree authorization
The current Certificate of Authorization and Certificate of Accreditation are posted in the Administration area of DigiPen’s campus for public inspection. For more information, contact the Office of Compliance and Institutional Success at (425) 629-5048.
Copyright Infringement and Peer-to-Peer File Sharing
DigiPen prohibits copyright infringement in any form, including the illegal downloading and uploading of copyrighted works through peer-to-peer file sharing as defined by Title 17 of the United States Code.
Copyright infringement may result in civil and criminal penalties, including damages of up to $150,000 per infringed work, imprisonment of up to five years, and fines of up to $250,000 per offense. For more information, please see the website of the U.S. Copyright Office at www.copyright.gov, especially the FAQs at www.copyright.gov/help/faq.
In addition to the civil and criminal penalties outlined above, students who engage in illegal downloading or unauthorized distribution of copyrighted materials using DigiPen’s network will also be referred to DigiPen’s Discipline Committee and be subject to disciplinary sanctions, up to and including suspension from the Institute, under the Regulation of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures.
These and other policies are part of DigiPen’s “Student Network and Internet Usage Agreement.”
Degree Programs
DigiPen offers the following degree programs:
Description of Facilities
General Facilities - DigiPen’s campus (9931 Willows Road NE, Redmond, WA 98052) encompasses over 150,000 square feet, and includes computer labs, art studios, auditoriums, classrooms, a library, and cafeteria. The campus is designed to comply with ANSI A117.1 accessibility standards and is wheelchair accessible. For additional information, please refer to the DigiPen Course Catalog.
Library - DigiPen’s library aims to support the Institute’s curriculum, students, and faculty. Students have access to a variety of resources, such as sound effects and reference books relevant to their program of study. The library also subscribes to a selection of major journals and magazines related to the fields of gaming, simulation, computer engineering, and animation. For additional information, please refer to the DigiPen Course Catalog.
Disability Support Services
DigiPen Institute of Technology is committed to providing equal access to all of its programs, courses, activities, events, and services. As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the “ADA”) as amended, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112) as amended (P.L. 93-16), DigiPen will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.
Drug and Alcohol Policy
I. Statement of Policy: DigiPen Institute of Technology forbids the manufacture, possession, distribution, and use of alcohol and illicit drugs on Institute Property or as part of any of the institution’s activities, except alcohol consumption during approved and catered events in accordance with State of Washington liquor license procedures. As an institution participating in the federal student aid programs, DigiPen is abided by federal regulations regarding the use of drugs by students and employees, regardless of state approval of drug use.
II. Applicable Sanctions: Illicit drug purchase, possession and use are crimes under state (RCW 69.50) and federal law. Washington law prohibits a variety of alcohol related conduct, including the purchase or possession of alcohol by anyone under 21 years of age (RCW 66.44). Violations of law are punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both.
Inability to exercise care for one’s own safety or the safety of others, and/or any damage caused to DigiPen property due in whole or in part to being under the influence of alcohol and/or controlled substance is considered a violation of this policy.
Accordingly, under WAC 478-121-115, 478-121-127, and 478-124-020 (2), violations of this policy can result in institutional sanctions, in addition to any criminal sanctions provided by federal, state, and/or local law.
Institutional sanctions for violation of standards of conduct may include referral for rehabilitation, expulsion, termination of employment, and referral for prosecution.
III. Available Services: Students seeking additional information about the effects of drug or alcohol use or seeking assistance for alcohol- or drug-related problems should contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-622-4357 or the Vice President of Student Support at 425-629-5015 for referral information. Employees that have health coverage under Cigna can find information and available programs on cigna.com/substanceabuse.
Drug and alcohol counseling, treatment, or rehabilitation or re-entry programs available to students and employees:
IV. Health Risks & Prevention: Repeated use of either drugs or alcohol can lead to dependence. Use of illicit drugs and abuse of alcohol cause a substantial number of health problems and can be fatal. The Controlled Substances Act (CSA) places all substances which were in some manner regulated under existing federal law into one of five schedules. The health risks for these substances can be found here at National Institute on Drug Abuse. Additional prevention information can be found on the DEA’s website: Campus Drug Prevention.
Faculty
A faculty directory is available at the back of the Course Catalog, and full profiles are available in our faculty page.
FERPA
FERPA stands for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (also known as the Buckley Amendment). Passed by Congress in 1974, FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the right of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for the protection of inaccurate and misleading data through informal and formal hearings.
The act grants specific rights to students:
- The right to inspect and review their education records.
- The right to seek amendment to those records and, in certain cases, append a statement to the records.
- The right to limit disclosure of personally identifiable information contained in their records.
- The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education.
Students must create a Proxy via Colleague Self-Service (CSS) in order to allow anyone other than themselves access to their education record. (This includes information about tuition payment, grades, and Financial Aid information.)
Financial Aid Information
For information related to financial aid policies and consumer information please visit the Financial Aid section of this website.
Institutional Mission
Vision
To continue our growth as a world-leader in higher education and research in the areas of digital media, simulation, and interactive computer technologies.
Mission
DigiPen Institute of Technology provides exemplary education and furthers research and innovation in science, engineering, arts, digital media, and interactive computer technologies. Building on a foundation of academics, applied learning, industry knowledge, and multi-disciplinary team-based collaboration, we inspire our students to pursue lifelong learning as well as scientific and creative exploration, and empower them to become leaders and originators on a global level.
Core Values
The core values governing DigiPen’s operation include the following:
Academic Freedom: Faculty at DigiPen enjoy freedom of expression in their research, creative works, and in the classroom.
Academic Excellence: DigiPen maintains high standards in the delivery of all instruction and in its projects.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are rooted in the fundamental belief in the value of each individual, and the understanding that, as a community, we must strive to maximize everyone’s chance to succeed.
Social Responsibility: DigiPen expects its faculty, students and staff to acknowledge their responsibility towards the community at large and build a sense of awareness and personal accountability of how their choices create positive change.
Innovation: Innovation is vital to the institute’s future effectiveness and relevance and to its visionary approach to education.
Financial Aid Code of Conduct
In response to the enactment of the Higher Education Opportunity Act in August of 2008, DigiPen’s Financial Aid Office has adopted the NASFAA (National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators) Code of Conduct to help ensure ethical behavior and the highest level of professional practices. All DigiPen staff members responsible for the administration of federal and private educational loans are subject to the guidelines within the NASFAA Statement of Ethical Principles and the NASFAA Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals. To read the full Code of Conduct, see DigiPen’s website.
Admissions Department Code of Conduct
All Admissions personnel at DigiPen are trained to conduct themselves in a manner that is ethical and professional. DigiPen requires all Admissions personnel to review a code of conduct and agree to maintain its standards on an annual basis. The code of conduct includes practices that are in keeping with organizational policies and procedures, as well as relevant accreditation requirements, such as providing consumers with accurate information regarding DigiPen’s programs and offerings and prohibiting any staff members to place any undue pressure on prospective students. To review a copy of the Admissions Code of Conduct, please contact admissions@digipen.edu.
Program Improvement
DigiPen continually strives for the highest standards to produce well-qualified artists, designers, engineers, innovators and team leaders for the real-time interactive simulation, video game, and digital art and animation industries. To ensure the excellence and relevance of the degree programs, DigiPen appoints program directors with strong commanding experience in the field to oversee the design and execution of the program curricula. Academic department chairs also play an instrumental role in the course design and development and in ensuring consistency and quality through the delivery of the programs. Additionally, DigiPen regularly reviews its programs for rigor and continued relevance to the industries through the establishment of its Program Advisory Committees, which meet annually. Current Program Advisory Committee members are comprised of representatives from companies, such as Microsoft, Nintendo, Monolith, Valve, Gas Powered Games, and ArenaNet.
Reserved Rights
DigiPen Institute of Technology reserves the right to make changes to the curricula, calendar, program delivery method, and/or Course Catalog without any prior notice.
Safety and Security
Annual Security Report
This Annual Security Report is published in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998 (the “Clery Act”). The report includes crime statistics for the previous three years (2020, 2021, and 2022) as well as Crime Reporting Procedures, Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures, our Drug and Alcohol Policy, and information on Campus Sexual Assault Prevention.
DigiPen Institute of Technology collects and reports crime statistics on a daily and annual basis. DigiPen makes a good faith effort to obtain crime statistics from Campus Security Authorities (CSAs). The report also includes applicable crime statistics provided by the Redmond Police Department and Kirkland Police Department.
The Annual Security Report is submitted by October 1 of each year. DigiPen emails the Annual Security Report to all current students and current employees via their assigned DigiPen email address once a year.
The Annual Security Report website address is https://www.digipen.edu/student-portal/campus-information/annual-security-report. Visit this page to view and download copies of the report.
To request a hard copy of the information or for any questions about the information available in each report, please contact the Front Desk at frontdesk.us@digipen.edu.
The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act
The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act requires states to ask registered sex offenders if they are enrolled or employed at an institution of higher education. To search King County’s Sex Offender Database to see if there are any registered sex offenders living in your area, visit King County Sex offender registration information.
Missing/Unresponsive Student Policy
DigiPen Institute of Technology considers the safety of our students to be essential in the creation and maintenance of an environment where learning is encouraged and supported. Any reports of a missing or unresponsive student should be directed to the Student Affairs Department in person or by telephone at (425) 522-5025. DigiPen’s assistance is restricted to campus and campus-related activities. FERPA may limit the information that DigiPen can share with the reporting party. In compliance with FERPA, DigiPen may contact next of kin or authorities if the missing student is deemed to be in distress.
Disclosures Related to On-Campus Housing
DigiPen does not provide on-campus housing. As such, the following related disclosures are not applicable: Annual Fire Safety Report and Fire Log.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
See the Course Catalog for a description of DigiPen’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policies.
Student Body Diversity
Federal regulations require disclosure of the following information about our full-time enrolled student population as reported to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS):
Fall 2022
Total Enrollment: 1124
- Undergraduate enrollment: 1067
- Undergraduate transfer-in enrollment: 123
- Graduate enrollment: 57
Undergraduate Attendance Status
- Part-time: 9%
- Full-time: 91%
Undergraduate Student Gender
- Female: 31%
- Male: 69%
Undergraduate Race/Ethnicity
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 0%
- Asian: 10%
- Black or African American: 2%
- Hispanic/Latino: 9%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 0%
- White: 54%
- Two or more races: 9%
- Race/Ethnicity Unknown: 4%
- Non-resident alien: 12%
Undergraduate Student Age*
- 24 and under: 83%
- 25 and over: 17%
- Age unknown: 0%
*Age data is reported for Fall 2021
Undergraduate Student Residence*
- In-state: 57%
- Out-of-state: 33%
- Foreign countries: 10%
- Unknown: 0%
*Residence data is reported for first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates
Undergraduate Distance Education Status
- Enrolled exclusively in distance education courses: 0%
- Enrolled in some, but not all, distance education courses: 56%
- Not enrolled in any distance education courses: 44%
Graduate Attendance Status
- Full-time: 70%
- Part-time: 30%
Graduate Distance Education Status
- Enrolled exclusively in distance education courses: 9%
- Enrolled in some, but not all, distance education courses: 44%
- Not enrolled in any distance education courses: 47%
Undergraduate Full-time Federal Pell Grant Recipients
- Grant or scholarship aid: 54%
- Pell Grants: 23%
- Federal Student Loans: 44%
Grant or scholarship aid includes aid received from the federal government, state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution.
Additional data (as submitted to IPEDS) is available through DigiPen’s College Navigator profile on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Student Graduation and Employment Rates As Reported to Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
In accordance with ACCSC requirements, the following pdf indicates the graduation and employment rates for each program as reported in DigiPen’s Annual Report to ACCSC. Please note that this disclosure is different from the U.S. Department of Education’s Gainful Employment Disclosure Templates. Details about ACCSC’s reporting requirements can be found below and in the report:
The reporting period used to complete the Graduation and Employment Chart is determined by taking the program’s normal length of completion (including vacation and holidays rounded to nearest whole number) in months multiplied by 150% and adding three (3) months for employment.
Graduation Rate - The school’s official graduation rate for each cohort and for the program within the reporting period. The graduation rate is calculated based on the number of students who graduated from the program within 150% of the stated program length.
Employment Rate - The school’s official rate of graduate job attainment for each cohort and for the program within the reporting period. The school’s official rate of employment is that which is used to determine compliance with accreditation requirements. The employment rate is calculated based on the number of graduates employed in jobs for which the program trained them.
Student Outcomes
The following section outlines the graduation and retention rates of DigiPen students, as well as the graduate and professional education programs that the school’s graduates have entered.
Graduate and Professional Education
DigiPen graduates have enrolled in the following graduate and professional education programs upon graduating from our four-year programs:
- DigiPen Institute of Technology (Redmond, WA) – Master of Science in Computer Science
- University of Washington (Seattle, WA) – Master of Communication in Communities and Networks
- University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA) – Masters of Computer Engineering
- Brown University (Providence, RI) – Master of Science in Computer Science
- Trinity College (Dublin, Ireland) – Master of Science in Computer Science (Interactive Entertainment Technology)
- Montana Tech of the University of Montana
This information was compiled via LinkedIn profiles, surveys of alumni and their employers using personal contact and verification services such as the Work Number (www.theworknumber.com) and the National Student Clearinghouse (www.studentclearinghouse.org) as part of the employment verification process required by our accrediting agency, the ACCSC. The information was collected between 2008 and 2019.
Please note: DigiPen’s mission is to prepare students for employment in the fields for which they study. The Institute advises all prospective students that the courses and credits reflected on their transcript may or may not be accepted by a receiving institution. Students should inquire with the specific receiving institution about the transferability of DigiPen credits.
Retention and Graduation Rates
The following information is based on institutional data submitted to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
First-to-Second Year Retention Rates
Retention rates measure the percentage of first-time students who are seeking bachelor’s degrees who return to the institution to continue their studies the following fall.
Retention Rates for First-Time Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
Percentage of students who began their studies in Fall 2021 and returned in Fall 2022:
- Full-time students: 69%
- Part-time students: 33%
Overall Graduation Rate and Transfer-Out Rate
The overall graduation rate is also known as the “Student Right to Know” or IPEDS graduation rate. It tracks the progress of students who began their studies as full-time, first-time degree- or certificate-seeking students to see if they complete a degree or other award such as a certificate within 150% of “normal time” for completing the program in which they are enrolled.
Some institutions also report a transfer-out rate, which is the percentage of the full-time, first-time students who transferred to another institution.
Note that not all students at the institution are tracked for these rates. Students who have already attended another postsecondary institution, or who began their studies on a part-time basis, are not tracked for this rate. At this institution, 58 percent of entering students were counted as “full-time, first-time” in 2022.
Additional data (as submitted to IPEDS) is available through DigiPen’s College Navigator profile on the U.S. Department of Education website.
Overall Graduation and Transfer-Out Rates for Students Who Began Their Studies in Fall 2017
Percentage of full-time, first-time students who graduated or transferred out within 150% of “normal time” to completion for their program:
- Overall graduation rate: 52%
- Transfer-out rate: N/A
Bachelor’s Degree Graduation Rates
Bachelor’s degree graduation rates measure the percentage of entering students beginning their studies full-time and are planning to get a bachelor’s degree and who complete their degree program within a specified amount of time.
Graduation Rates for Students Persuing Bachelor’s Degrees
Percentage of full-time, first-time students who graduated in the specified amount of time and began in Fall 2017:
- 4-year: 42%
- 6-year: 52%
- 8-year: N/A
6-year Graduation Rate by Gender for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
Percentage of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2017 and received a degree or award within 150% of “normal time” to completion for their program:
- Female: 51%
- Male: 52%
6-year Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity for Students Pursuing Bachelor’s Degrees
Percentage of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2017 and received a degree or award within 150% of “normal time” to completion for their program:
- American Islander or Alaska Native: N/A
- Asian: 58%
- Black or African American: 25%
- Hispanic/Latino: 29%
- White: 53%
- Two or more races: 67%
- Race/ethnicity unknown: 60%
- Non-resident alien: 35%
6-year Graduation Rate by Federal Pell Grant
Percentage of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2017 and received a degree or award within 150% of “normal time” to completion for their program: 48%
6-year Graduation Rate by Federal Recipients of a Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Who Did Not Receive Pell
Percentage of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2017 and received a degree or award within 150% of “normal time” to completion for their program: 66%
6-year Graduation Rate by Recipients of Neither a Federal Pell Grant nor Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
Percentage of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in Fall 2017 and received a degree or award within 150% of “normal time” to completion for their program: 76%
Textbook Information
The list of textbooks required for each class is made available to students prior to the start of classes. A full booklist is posted on the website at https://www.digipen.edu/student-portal/academics/required-materials-list.
Transfer Credits and Articulation Agreements
Transfer Credits
Credit earned by examination at other colleges or universities in the last 10 years may be transferred, provided such credit meets the guidelines used by DigiPen Institute of Technology. The Registrar will evaluate college credits earned elsewhere with respect to graduation requirements at DigiPen. Developmental classes, orientation classes, or classes in which a student receives a “pass” are not eligible for transfer credit consideration. Courses transferred or waived are entered on transcripts, but no grades or quality points are awarded.
Read more about transfer credits
For more information about DigiPen’s accreditation and degree authorization, visit the Accreditation and Degree Authorization section of this page.
Articulation Agreements
Credits from a college with an articulation agreement with DigiPen Institute of Technology will be accepted, and grades earned will be included in students’ DigiPen transcripts. DigiPen has an articulation agreement with Keimyung University in Daegu, South Korea.
Transparency in Coverage Rule
In response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule, machine-readable files are available and include negotiated service rates and out-of-network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers. The machine-readable files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators, and application developers to access and analyze data more easily.
Vaccination Policy
DigiPen does not require specific immunization or vaccinations for its students, except for COVID-19. Please visit DigiPen’s COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements page for information about current requirements and information.
The State of Washington requires DigiPen to educate its students about Meningococcal Disease and vaccination. Information related to the causes, symptoms, mortality, treatment, and prevention (including vaccination) is available to download from the American College Health Associations website. This information is also available in the Student Affairs office.
Voter Registration
For detailed information about voter registration in Washington state and to download a voter registration form, visit Washington State’s voting and elections page.
Web Accessibility
DigiPen Institute of Technology is committed to providing equal access to information and functionality and welcomes feedback whenever a user experiences any difficulty. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and applying the relevant accessibility standards.
Conformance status
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) defines requirements for designers and developers to improve accessibility for people with disabilities. It defines three levels of conformance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA. This website is partially conformant with WCAG 2.1 level AA. Partially conformant means that some parts of the content do not fully conform to the accessibility standard.
Feedback
We welcome your feedback on the accessibility of this website. Please let us know if you encounter accessibility barriers:
We try to respond to feedback within 5 business days.