Centralia College vs. Shoreline Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Centralia College in Centralia, WA with Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shoreline Community College is larger than Centralia College based on total student enrollment (4,477 students vs. 2,244 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Centralia College is located in Centralia, WA (Distant Town setting); Shoreline Community College is in Shoreline, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Centralia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Shoreline Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Centralia College 16:1; Shoreline Community College 13:1.

Centralia College vs. Shoreline Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centralia College or Shoreline 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 Shoreline Community College than Centralia College ($10,535 vs. $14,216).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centralia College are 0% lower than at Shoreline Community College ($17,307 vs. $17,310).
• Centralia College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shoreline Community College (about $151 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.9% higher at Shoreline Community College than at Centralia College (about $2,254 more per year; $7,905.00 vs. $5,651.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centralia College than at Shoreline Community College (77% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Centralia College students is 4.1% larger than aid received by Shoreline Community College students ($6,228 vs. $5,981).

Centralia College vs. Shoreline Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centralia College or Shoreline 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 Shoreline Community College and Centralia College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Centralia College - Open admission; Shoreline Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Centralia College Sep 1, 2026.

Centralia College vs. Shoreline Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centralia College and Shoreline 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 Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $10,200 more per year than Centralia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.