GRCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Green River College is larger than South Puget Sound Community College based on total student enrollment (7,967 students vs. 4,871 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Green River College is located in Auburn, WA (Small City setting); South Puget Sound Community College is in Olympia, WA (Small City setting).
• Green River 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: Green River College 11:1; South Puget Sound Community College 17:1.

GRCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GRCC 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 GRCC ($12,399 vs. $14,405).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Green River College and South Puget Sound Community College ($17,310).
• South Puget Sound Community College is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than GRCC (about $541 more per year; $5,252.00 vs. $4,711.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at South Puget Sound Community College than at Green River College (about $550 more per year; $5,813.00 vs. $5,263.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Puget Sound Community College than at Green River College (63% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Green River College students is 11.3% larger than aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students ($7,198 vs. $6,465).

GRCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GRCC 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 GRCC.

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

GRCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GRCC 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 Green River College earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than South Puget Sound Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,500 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• More GRCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Puget Sound Community College students, three years after graduation. (38% vs. 38%)

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.