GHC vs. South Puget Sound Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, 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 GHC based on total student enrollment (4,871 students vs. 1,577 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Grays Harbor College is located in Aberdeen, WA (Rural Fringe setting); South Puget Sound Community College is in Olympia, WA (Small City setting).
• Grays Harbor 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: Grays Harbor College 14:1; South Puget Sound Community College 17:1.

GHC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GHC 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 Grays Harbor College than South Puget Sound Community College ($9,640 vs. $12,399).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grays Harbor College are 25.1% lower than at South Puget Sound Community College ($12,966 vs. $17,310).
• Grays Harbor College is 6.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than South Puget Sound Community College (about $341 more per year; $5,593.00 vs. $5,252.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 115.9% higher at GHC than at South Puget Sound Community College (about $6,740 more per year; $12,553.00 vs. $5,813.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grays Harbor College than at South Puget Sound Community College (94% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grays Harbor College students is 11.7% larger than aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students ($7,224 vs. $6,465).

GHC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GHC 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 GHC.

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

GHC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GHC 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 $2,800 more per year than GHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have a $1,560 lower median loan debt than GHC graduates ($8,000 vs. $9,560).
• Among borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than GHC graduates ($82 vs. $98).
• More South Puget Sound Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GHC students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 27%)

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.