Clark College vs. South Puget Sound Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Clark College in Vancouver, WA with South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Clark College is larger than South Puget Sound Community College based on total student enrollment (7,463 students vs. 4,871 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clark College is located in Vancouver, WA (Midsize City setting); South Puget Sound Community College is in Olympia, WA (Small City setting).
• Clark 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: Clark College 12:1; South Puget Sound Community College 17:1.

Clark College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Clark 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 Clark College ($12,399 vs. $13,528).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Clark College and South Puget Sound Community College ($17,310).
• South Puget Sound Community College is 0.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Clark College (about $19 more per year; $5,252.00 vs. $5,233.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.4% higher at Clark College than at South Puget Sound Community College (about $5,370 more per year; $11,183.00 vs. $5,813.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark College than at South Puget Sound Community College (68% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Clark College students is 2.6% larger than aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students ($6,632 vs. $6,465).

Clark College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Clark 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 Clark College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Clark College - Open admission; South Puget Sound Community College - Open admission.

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

How do outcomes compare for Clark 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 Clark College earn a median of about $3,400 more per year than South Puget Sound Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,700 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Clark College graduates ($8,000 vs. $12,500).
• Among borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Clark College graduates ($82 vs. $129).
• More South Puget Sound Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clark College students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 32%)

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.