Pierce College District vs. LCC

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than LCC based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 2,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pierce College District vs. LCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or LCC? 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 Pierce College District ($9,950 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lower Columbia College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 17.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than LCC (about $792 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $4,626.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at LCC than at Pierce College District (about $27 more per year; $6,003.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lower Columbia College than at Pierce College District (76% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pierce College District students is 3.4% larger than aid received by Lower Columbia College students ($6,785 vs. $6,564).

Pierce College District vs. LCC Admissions comparison

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

Pierce College District vs. LCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and LCC? 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 $4,100 more per year than LCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $2,374 lower median loan debt than LCC graduates ($10,410 vs. $12,784).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LCC graduates ($107 vs. $132).
• More Pierce College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LCC students, three years after graduation. (39% 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.