Pierce College District vs. Renton Technical College

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than Renton Technical College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 2,824 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Renton Technical College is in Renton, WA (Small City setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Renton Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Renton Technical College 19:1.

Pierce College District vs. Renton Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or Renton Technical 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 Renton Technical College than Pierce College District ($9,656 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Renton Technical College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Renton Technical College is 16.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College District (about $890 more per year; $6,308.00 vs. $5,418.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.3% higher at Renton Technical College than at Pierce College District (about $1,393 more per year; $7,369.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Renton Technical College than at Pierce College District (69% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Renton Technical College students is 11.4% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,560 vs. $6,785).

Pierce College District vs. Renton Technical College Admissions comparison

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

Pierce College District vs. Renton Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and Renton Technical 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 Renton Technical College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Pierce College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($40,500 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Renton Technical College graduates have a $1,830 lower median loan debt than Pierce College District graduates ($8,580 vs. $10,410).
• Among borrowers, Renton Technical College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College District graduates ($88 vs. $107).
• More Renton Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College District students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.