South Puget Sound Community College vs. Cascadia College

Comparable Facts

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

South Puget Sound Community College is larger than Cascadia College based on total student enrollment (4,871 students vs. 2,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

South Puget Sound Community College vs. Cascadia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Puget Sound Community College or Cascadia 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 South Puget Sound Community College than Cascadia College ($12,399 vs. $13,782).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at South Puget Sound Community College and Cascadia College ($17,310).
• South Puget Sound Community College is 1.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Cascadia College (about $95 more per year; $5,252.00 vs. $5,157.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 94.3% higher at Cascadia College than at South Puget Sound Community College (about $5,483 more per year; $11,296.00 vs. $5,813.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Puget Sound Community College than at Cascadia College (63% vs. 36%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cascadia College students is 31.6% larger than aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students ($8,505 vs. $6,465).

South Puget Sound Community College vs. Cascadia College Admissions comparison

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

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

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

How do outcomes compare for South Puget Sound Community College and Cascadia 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 Cascadia College earn a median of about $13,900 more per year than South Puget Sound Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have a $592 lower median loan debt than Cascadia College graduates ($8,000 vs. $8,592).
• Among borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cascadia College graduates ($82 vs. $88).
• More Cascadia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Puget Sound Community College students, three years after graduation. (48% 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.