Pierce College District vs. Cascadia College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pierce College District in Lakewood, WA with Cascadia College in Bothell, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pierce College District is larger than Cascadia College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 2,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Cascadia College is in Bothell, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Cascadia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Cascadia College 13:1.

Pierce College District vs. Cascadia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District 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 Pierce College District than Cascadia College ($11,340 vs. $13,782).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cascadia College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 5.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cascadia College (about $261 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $5,157.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89% higher at Cascadia College than at Pierce College District (about $5,320 more per year; $11,296.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Pierce College District than at Cascadia College (51% vs. 36%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cascadia College students is 25.4% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($8,505 vs. $6,785).

Pierce College District vs. Cascadia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce College District 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 Pierce College District.

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

Pierce College District vs. Cascadia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District 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 $10,900 more per year than Pierce College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cascadia College graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Pierce College District graduates ($8,592 vs. $10,410).
• Among borrowers, Cascadia College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College District graduates ($88 vs. $107).
• More Cascadia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College District students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 39%)

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.