CPTC vs. Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, 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 CPTC based on total student enrollment (6,199 students vs. 3,408 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clover Park Technical College is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Tacoma Community College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Clover Park Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tacoma Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Clover Park Technical College 20:1; Tacoma Community College 17:1.

CPTC vs. Tacoma Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CPTC 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 CPTC ($9,803 vs. $10,915).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Clover Park Technical College and Tacoma Community College ($17,310).
• Clover Park Technical College is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Tacoma Community College (about $1,127 more per year; $6,634.00 vs. $5,507.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 75.6% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Clover Park Technical College (about $5,012 more per year; $11,646.00 vs. $6,634.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tacoma Community College than at Clover Park Technical College (55% vs. 53%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Clover Park Technical College students is 7.8% larger than aid received by Tacoma Community College students ($7,877 vs. $7,308).

CPTC vs. Tacoma Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CPTC 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 CPTC.

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

CPTC vs. Tacoma Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CPTC 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 $2,400 more per year than CPTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Clover Park Technical College graduates have a $1,556 lower median loan debt than Tacoma Community College graduates ($11,212 vs. $12,768).
• Among borrowers, CPTC graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tacoma Community College graduates ($115 vs. $132).
• More Tacoma Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CPTC students, three years after graduation. (34% 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.