Pierce College District vs. Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than Tacoma Community College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 6,199 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Tacoma Community College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tacoma Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Tacoma Community College 17:1.

Pierce College District vs. Tacoma Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or Tacoma 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 Tacoma Community College than Pierce College District ($9,803 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Tacoma Community College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Tacoma Community College is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pierce College District (about $89 more per year; $5,507.00 vs. $5,418.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94.9% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Pierce College District (about $5,670 more per year; $11,646.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tacoma Community College than at Pierce College District (55% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tacoma Community College students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,308 vs. $6,785).

Pierce College District vs. Tacoma Community College Admissions comparison

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

Pierce College District vs. Tacoma Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and Tacoma 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 Tacoma Community College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Pierce College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,000 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $2,358 lower median loan debt than Tacoma Community College graduates ($10,410 vs. $12,768).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tacoma Community College graduates ($107 vs. $132).
• More Pierce College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tacoma Community College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 34%)

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.