Pierce College District vs. GHC

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than GHC based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 1,577 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Grays Harbor College is in Aberdeen, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Grays Harbor College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Grays Harbor College 14:1.

Pierce College District vs. GHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or GHC? 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 Pierce College District ($9,640 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grays Harbor College are 27.9% lower than at Pierce College District ($12,966 vs. $17,982).
• Grays Harbor College is 3.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College District (about $175 more per year; $5,593.00 vs. $5,418.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 110.1% higher at GHC than at Pierce College District (about $6,577 more per year; $12,553.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grays Harbor College than at Pierce College District (94% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grays Harbor College students is 6.5% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,224 vs. $6,785).

Pierce College District vs. GHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce College District or GHC? 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 GHC 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; GHC - Open admission.

Pierce College District vs. GHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and GHC? 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 Pierce College District earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than GHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Grays Harbor College graduates have a $850 lower median loan debt than Pierce College District graduates ($9,560 vs. $10,410).
• Among borrowers, GHC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College District graduates ($98 vs. $107).
• More Pierce College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GHC students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.