Pierce College District vs. Shoreline Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than Shoreline Community College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 4,477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Pierce College District vs. Shoreline Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or Shoreline 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 Shoreline Community College than Pierce College District ($10,535 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shoreline Community College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shoreline Community College (about $303 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.3% higher at Shoreline Community College than at Pierce College District (about $1,929 more per year; $7,905.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shoreline Community College than at Pierce College District (59% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pierce College District students is 13.4% larger than aid received by Shoreline Community College students ($6,785 vs. $5,981).

Pierce College District vs. Shoreline Community College Admissions comparison

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

Pierce College District vs. Shoreline Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and Shoreline 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 Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Pierce College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $1,590 lower median loan debt than Shoreline Community College graduates ($10,410 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shoreline Community College graduates ($107 vs. $124).
• More Shoreline Community 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.