Pierce College District vs. Spokane Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than Spokane Community College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 6,813 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Spokane Community College is in Spokane, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Spokane Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Spokane Community College 14:1.

Pierce College District vs. Spokane Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or Spokane 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 Spokane Community College than Pierce College District ($6,132 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Spokane Community College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Spokane Community College is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College District (about $43 more per year; $5,461.00 vs. $5,418.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.6% higher at Spokane Community College than at Pierce College District (about $636 more per year; $6,612.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Spokane Community College than at Pierce College District (65% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Spokane Community College students is 12.8% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,655 vs. $6,785).

Pierce College District vs. Spokane Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce College District or Spokane 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 Spokane 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; Spokane Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Spokane Community College Aug 30, 2027.

Pierce College District vs. Spokane Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and Spokane 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 Pierce College District earn a median of about $2,600 more per year than Spokane Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $35,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $5,873 lower median loan debt than Spokane Community College graduates ($10,410 vs. $16,283).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spokane Community College graduates ($107 vs. $168).
• More Pierce College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Spokane Community College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 35%)

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.