Bates Technical College vs. South Puget Sound Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bates Technical College in Tacoma, WA with South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Puget Sound Community College is larger than Bates Technical College based on total student enrollment (4,871 students vs. 4,083 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bates Technical College is located in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting); South Puget Sound Community College is in Olympia, WA (Small City setting).
• Bates Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Puget Sound Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bates Technical College 21:1; South Puget Sound Community College 17:1.

Bates Technical College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bates Technical College or South Puget Sound Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates Technical College than South Puget Sound Community College ($7,963 vs. $12,399).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bates Technical College and South Puget Sound Community College ($17,310).
• Bates Technical College is 14.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Puget Sound Community College (about $775 more per year; $6,027.00 vs. $5,252.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 109.3% higher at Bates Technical College than at South Puget Sound Community College (about $6,352 more per year; $12,165.00 vs. $5,813.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Puget Sound Community College than at Bates Technical College (63% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bates Technical College students is 62.1% larger than aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students ($10,479 vs. $6,465).

Bates Technical College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bates Technical College or South Puget Sound Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between South Puget Sound Community College and Bates Technical College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bates Technical College - Open admission; South Puget Sound Community College - Open admission.

Bates Technical College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bates Technical College and South Puget Sound Community College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Bates Technical College earn a median of about $5,500 more per year than South Puget Sound Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,800 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates Technical College graduates have a $2,105 lower median loan debt than South Puget Sound Community College graduates ($5,895 vs. $8,000).
• Among borrowers, Bates Technical College graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than South Puget Sound Community College graduates ($60 vs. $82).
• More Bates Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Puget Sound Community College students, three years after graduation. (42% vs. 38%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.