Centralia College vs. South Puget Sound Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Centralia College in Centralia, 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 Centralia College based on total student enrollment (4,871 students vs. 2,244 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Centralia College is located in Centralia, WA (Distant Town setting); South Puget Sound Community College is in Olympia, WA (Small City setting).
• Centralia 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: Centralia College 16:1; South Puget Sound Community College 17:1.

Centralia College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centralia 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 South Puget Sound Community College than Centralia College ($12,399 vs. $14,216).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centralia College are 0% lower than at South Puget Sound Community College ($17,307 vs. $17,310).
• Centralia College is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Puget Sound Community College (about $14 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $5,252.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at South Puget Sound Community College than at Centralia College (about $162 more per year; $5,813.00 vs. $5,651.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centralia College than at South Puget Sound Community College (77% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students is 3.8% larger than aid received by Centralia College students ($6,465 vs. $6,228).

Centralia College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centralia 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 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; South Puget Sound Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Centralia College Sep 1, 2026.

Centralia College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centralia 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 South Puget Sound Community College earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than Centralia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 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.