Shoreline Community College vs. Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tacoma Community College is larger than Shoreline Community College based on total student enrollment (6,199 students vs. 4,477 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Shoreline Community College vs. Tacoma Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shoreline Community College 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 Shoreline Community College ($9,803 vs. $10,535).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Shoreline Community College and Tacoma Community College ($17,310).
• Tacoma Community College is 7.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Shoreline Community College (about $392 more per year; $5,507.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.3% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Shoreline Community College (about $3,741 more per year; $11,646.00 vs. $7,905.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shoreline Community College than at Tacoma Community College (59% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Tacoma Community College students is 22.2% larger than aid received by Shoreline Community College students ($7,308 vs. $5,981).

Shoreline Community College vs. Tacoma Community College Admissions comparison

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

Shoreline Community College vs. Tacoma Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Shoreline Community College 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 Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Tacoma Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shoreline Community College graduates have a $768 lower median loan debt than Tacoma Community College graduates ($12,000 vs. $12,768).
• Among borrowers, Shoreline Community College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Tacoma Community College graduates ($124 vs. $132).
• More Shoreline Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Tacoma Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.