Shoreline Community College vs. South Puget Sound Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Shoreline Community College in Shoreline, WA with South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

South Puget Sound Community College is larger than Shoreline Community College based on total student enrollment (4,871 students vs. 4,477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Shoreline Community College is located in Shoreline, WA (Large Suburban setting); South Puget Sound Community College is in Olympia, WA (Small City setting).
• Shoreline Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. South Puget Sound Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Shoreline Community College 13:1; South Puget Sound Community College 17:1.

Shoreline Community College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shoreline Community College or South Puget Sound 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 Shoreline Community College than South Puget Sound Community College ($10,535 vs. $12,399).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Shoreline Community College and South Puget Sound Community College ($17,310).
• South Puget Sound Community College is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shoreline Community College (about $137 more per year; $5,252.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36% higher at Shoreline Community College than at South Puget Sound Community College (about $2,092 more per year; $7,905.00 vs. $5,813.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Puget Sound Community College than at Shoreline Community College (63% vs. 59%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students is 8.1% larger than aid received by Shoreline Community College students ($6,465 vs. $5,981).

Shoreline Community College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Shoreline Community College or South Puget Sound 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 South Puget Sound Community College and Shoreline Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Shoreline Community College - Open admission; South Puget Sound Community College - Open admission.

Shoreline Community College vs. South Puget Sound Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Shoreline Community College and South Puget Sound 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 Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $7,800 more per year than South Puget Sound Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have a $4,000 lower median loan debt than Shoreline Community College graduates ($8,000 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shoreline Community College graduates ($82 vs. $124).
• More Shoreline Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Puget Sound Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 38%)

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.