Pierce College District vs. YVCC

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than YVCC based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 3,809 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Yakima Valley College is in Yakima, WA (Small City setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Yakima Valley College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Yakima Valley College 15:1.

Pierce College District vs. YVCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District or YVCC? 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 Pierce College District than YVCC ($11,340 vs. $12,862).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Yakima Valley College are 50.4% lower than at Pierce College District ($8,928 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 2% more expensive for in-state tuition than YVCC (about $106 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $5,312.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.8% higher at Pierce College District than at Yakima Valley College (about $103 more per year; $5,976.00 vs. $5,873.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Yakima Valley College than at Pierce College District (80% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Yakima Valley College students is 17.5% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($7,971 vs. $6,785).

Pierce College District vs. YVCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce College District or YVCC? 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 YVCC 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; YVCC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: YVCC Aug 12, 2027.

Pierce College District vs. YVCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District and YVCC? 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 $3,200 more per year than YVCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $35,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $924 lower median loan debt than YVCC graduates ($10,410 vs. $11,334).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than YVCC graduates ($107 vs. $117).
• More YVCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College District students, three years after graduation. (44% 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.