CPTC vs. Pierce College District

Comparable Facts

Compare Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, WA with Pierce College District in Lakewood, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pierce College District is larger than CPTC based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 3,408 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clover Park Technical College is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Pierce College District is in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Clover Park Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Clover Park Technical College 20:1; Pierce College District 13:1.

CPTC vs. Pierce College District Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CPTC or Pierce College District? 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 Clover Park Technical College than Pierce College District ($10,915 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clover Park Technical College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Clover Park Technical College is 22.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College District (about $1,216 more per year; $6,634.00 vs. $5,418.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11% higher at CPTC than at Pierce College District (about $658 more per year; $6,634.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clover Park Technical College than at Pierce College District (53% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Clover Park Technical College students is 16.1% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,877 vs. $6,785).

CPTC vs. Pierce College District Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CPTC or Pierce College District? 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 Pierce College District and CPTC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CPTC - Open admission; Pierce College District - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CPTC Sep 27, 2026.

CPTC vs. Pierce College District Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CPTC and Pierce College District? 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 Pierce College District earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than CPTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $802 lower median loan debt than CPTC graduates ($10,410 vs. $11,212).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CPTC graduates ($107 vs. $115).
• More Pierce College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CPTC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 31%)

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.