Centralia College vs. Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Centralia College in Centralia, 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 Centralia College based on total student enrollment (6,199 students vs. 2,244 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Centralia College is located in Centralia, WA (Distant Town setting); Tacoma Community College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Centralia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tacoma Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Centralia College 16:1; Tacoma Community College 17:1.

Centralia College vs. Tacoma Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centralia 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 Centralia College ($9,803 vs. $14,216).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centralia College are 0% lower than at Tacoma Community College ($17,307 vs. $17,310).
• Tacoma Community College is 4.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centralia College (about $241 more per year; $5,507.00 vs. $5,266.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 106.1% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Centralia College (about $5,995 more per year; $11,646.00 vs. $5,651.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centralia College than at Tacoma Community College (77% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tacoma Community College students is 17.3% larger than aid received by Centralia College students ($7,308 vs. $6,228).

Centralia College vs. Tacoma Community College Admissions comparison

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

Centralia College vs. Tacoma Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centralia 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 $6,100 more per year than Centralia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 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.