LCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lower Columbia College in Longview, 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 LCC based on total student enrollment (4,871 students vs. 2,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lower Columbia College is located in Longview, WA (Small City setting); South Puget Sound Community College is in Olympia, WA (Small City setting).
• Lower Columbia 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: Lower Columbia College 15:1; South Puget Sound Community College 17:1.

LCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LCC 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 Lower Columbia College than South Puget Sound Community College ($9,950 vs. $12,399).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Lower Columbia College and South Puget Sound Community College ($17,310).
• South Puget Sound Community College is 13.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than LCC (about $626 more per year; $5,252.00 vs. $4,626.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at LCC than at South Puget Sound Community College (about $190 more per year; $6,003.00 vs. $5,813.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lower Columbia College than at South Puget Sound Community College (76% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lower Columbia College students is 1.5% larger than aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students ($6,564 vs. $6,465).

LCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LCC 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 LCC.

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

LCC vs. South Puget Sound Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LCC 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 $1,100 more per year than LCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,300 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have a $4,784 lower median loan debt than LCC graduates ($8,000 vs. $12,784).
• Among borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LCC graduates ($82 vs. $132).
• More South Puget Sound Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LCC students, three years after graduation. (38% 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.