Big Bend Community College vs. Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tacoma Community College is larger than Big Bend Community College based on total student enrollment (6,199 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); Tacoma Community College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Big Bend Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tacoma Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Big Bend Community College 17:1; Tacoma Community College 17:1.

Big Bend Community College vs. Tacoma Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Big Bend Community College or Tacoma 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 Tacoma Community College than Big Bend Community College ($9,803 vs. $14,474).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Big Bend Community College and Tacoma Community College ($17,310).
• Tacoma Community College is 8.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Big Bend Community College (about $448 more per year; $5,507.00 vs. $5,059.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 107.3% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Big Bend Community College (about $6,027 more per year; $11,646.00 vs. $5,619.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Big Bend Community College than at Tacoma Community College (77% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Big Bend Community College students is 3.5% larger than aid received by Tacoma Community College students ($7,561 vs. $7,308).

Big Bend Community College vs. Tacoma Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Big Bend Community College or Tacoma 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 Tacoma Community College 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; Tacoma Community College - Open admission.

Big Bend Community College vs. Tacoma Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Big Bend Community College and Tacoma 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 Tacoma Community College earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Big Bend Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $38,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Big Bend Community College graduates have a $1,808 lower median loan debt than Tacoma Community College graduates ($10,960 vs. $12,768).
• Among borrowers, Big Bend Community College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tacoma Community College graduates ($113 vs. $132).
• More Big Bend Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tacoma Community College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 34%)

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.