Pierce College District vs. Walla Walla Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than Walla Walla Community College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 2,967 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Walla Walla Community College is in Walla Walla, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Walla Walla Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Walla Walla Community College 18:1.

Pierce College District vs. Walla Walla Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla Community College than Pierce College District ($10,612 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Walla Walla Community College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 2.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Walla Walla Community College (about $139 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $5,279.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.1% higher at Walla Walla Community College than at Pierce College District (about $724 more per year; $6,700.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Walla Walla Community College than at Pierce College District (80% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Walla Walla Community College students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,586 vs. $6,785).

Pierce College District vs. Walla Walla Community College Admissions comparison

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

Pierce College District vs. Walla Walla Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and Walla Walla 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 $1,900 more per year than Walla Walla Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $1,764 lower median loan debt than Walla Walla Community College graduates ($10,410 vs. $12,174).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Walla Walla Community College graduates ($107 vs. $125).
• More Walla Walla Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College District students, three years after graduation. (43% 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.