Pierce College District vs. Skagit Valley College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pierce College District in Lakewood, WA with Skagit Valley College in Mount Vernon, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pierce College District is larger than Skagit Valley College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 4,028 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Skagit Valley College is in Mount Vernon, WA (Small City setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Skagit Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Skagit Valley College 16:1.

Pierce College District vs. Skagit Valley College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or Skagit Valley 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 Skagit Valley College than Pierce College District ($8,264 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Skagit Valley College are 3.2% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,400 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 0.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Skagit Valley College (about $18 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $5,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.5% higher at Skagit Valley College than at Pierce College District (about $1,524 more per year; $7,500.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Skagit Valley College than at Pierce College District (58% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pierce College District students is 2.3% larger than aid received by Skagit Valley College students ($6,785 vs. $6,632).

Pierce College District vs. Skagit Valley College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce College District or Skagit Valley 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 Skagit Valley 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; Skagit Valley College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Skagit Valley College Sep 7, 2026.

Pierce College District vs. Skagit Valley College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and Skagit Valley 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 Pierce College District earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Skagit Valley College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $90 lower median loan debt than Skagit Valley College graduates ($10,410 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Skagit Valley College graduates ($107 vs. $108).
• More Skagit Valley College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College District students, three years after graduation. (41% 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.