Big Bend Community College vs. Pierce College District

Comparable Facts

Compare Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, WA with Pierce College District in Lakewood, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pierce College District is larger than Big Bend Community College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 1,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Big Bend Community College is located in Moses Lake, WA (Remote Town setting); Pierce College District is in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Big Bend Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Big Bend Community College 17:1; Pierce College District 13:1.

Big Bend Community College vs. Pierce College District Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Big Bend Community College or Pierce College District? 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 Pierce College District than Big Bend Community College ($11,340 vs. $14,474).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Big Bend Community College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 7.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Big Bend Community College (about $359 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $5,059.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6.4% higher at Pierce College District than at Big Bend Community College (about $357 more per year; $5,976.00 vs. $5,619.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Big Bend Community College than at Pierce College District (77% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Big Bend Community College students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,561 vs. $6,785).

Big Bend Community College vs. Pierce College District Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Big Bend Community College or Pierce College District? 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 Pierce College District and Big Bend Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Big Bend Community College - Open admission; Pierce College District - Open admission.

Big Bend Community College vs. Pierce College District Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Big Bend Community College and Pierce College District? 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 Pierce College District earn a median of about $300 more per year than Big Bend Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $550 lower median loan debt than Big Bend Community College graduates ($10,410 vs. $10,960).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Big Bend Community College graduates ($107 vs. $113).
• More Pierce College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Big Bend Community College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 36%)

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.