LCC vs. Cascadia College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lower Columbia College in Longview, WA with Cascadia College in Bothell, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Lower Columbia College is larger than Cascadia College based on total student enrollment (2,724 students vs. 2,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lower Columbia College is located in Longview, WA (Small City setting); Cascadia College is in Bothell, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Lower Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cascadia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lower Columbia College 15:1; Cascadia College 13:1.

LCC vs. Cascadia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LCC or Cascadia 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 Lower Columbia College than Cascadia College ($9,950 vs. $13,782).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Lower Columbia College and Cascadia College ($17,310).
• Cascadia College is 11.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LCC (about $531 more per year; $5,157.00 vs. $4,626.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 88.2% higher at Cascadia College than at Lower Columbia College (about $5,293 more per year; $11,296.00 vs. $6,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lower Columbia College than at Cascadia College (76% vs. 36%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cascadia College students is 29.6% larger than aid received by Lower Columbia College students ($8,505 vs. $6,564).

LCC vs. Cascadia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LCC or Cascadia 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 Cascadia College and LCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LCC - Open admission; Cascadia College - Open admission.

LCC vs. Cascadia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LCC and Cascadia 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 Cascadia College earn a median of about $15,000 more per year than LCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cascadia College graduates have a $4,192 lower median loan debt than LCC graduates ($8,592 vs. $12,784).
• Among borrowers, Cascadia College graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LCC graduates ($88 vs. $132).
• More Cascadia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LCC students, three years after graduation. (48% 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.