Clark College
- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,356 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,465 B
- 33% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,945
Bottom line: A C overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $21.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $932,879.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 37% — 35% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $21.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.1%
- Top 86%
- Patents
- 17
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
Why Clark College Matters
Clark College is a public community college in Vancouver, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 4,945
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education
Why students choose Clark College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $11,465 a year after grants and scholarships — 33% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,356 ten years after enrolling — 4% above the typical college, against $10,881 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 75% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.19 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Clark College serves around 4,900 students and is a good fit for those seeking a supportive environment to pursue practical skills in fields like humanities, health professions, business and marketing, education, and computer science. The college focuses on delivering education that aligns with workforce needs, making it an appealing choice for students looking for career-oriented programs.
Graduates from Clark College can expect to earn about $42,356 a decade after completing their studies. While the graduation rate sits at 37%, those who do finish often find themselves in solid positions in the job market. It’s important to note that a quarter of students receive Pell Grants, which can help ease the financial burden of college. This support can be crucial for students who may be navigating financial challenges.
When it comes to the financial aspects, the average net price after aid is approximately $11,465, and students leave with a median debt of about $10,881. Generally, those who thrive here are individuals who are committed to their education and are looking to build a career without incurring overwhelming debt. The college's accessible pricing and strong community support make it a viable option for many.
Rankings
- #13 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #19 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #20 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
- #20 Best Data Science Colleges in Washington
- #21 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #22 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #25 Best Master's Programs in Washington
- #26 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Clark College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clark College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Vancouver, Washington, Clark College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 98%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,396
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.70
- First-Gen Students
- 42%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clark College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Clark College is $11,183, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,465. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,773 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,881 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,233
- Out-of-State
- $11,183
- Avg Net Price
- $11,465
- Median Debt
- $10,881
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 22%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,773
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,015
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $13,291
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,813
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Clark College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Clark College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clark College report median earnings of $42,356, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,411
- 8 Years
- $40,236
- 10 Years
- $42,356
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.26x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
How Clark Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Clark College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Clark College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,465/year ($45,860 total). Graduates earn $42,356 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $978,739 in total earnings — a net gain of $932,879 (21.3× your investment). The median debt is $10,881, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $45,860
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $978,739
- Net Return
- $932,879
- ROI Multiple
- 21.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,465
- Median Debt
- $10,881
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Clark College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clark College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.02%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.02%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 13.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $111,545
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Clark College produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 17 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.15%
- Top 86% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 17
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 64
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.15%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $760,490
- Investment Income
- $62,665
Top Programs
The fields Clark College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 36%
- Health Professions 16% $75,923 early-career
- Business & Marketing 13%
- Education 11%
- Computer Science & IT 6%
- Precision Production 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
- Culinary & Personal Services 2%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Clark College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Clark College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Vancouver, Washington, Clark College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Clark College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Clark College is $11,183, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $11,465. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,773 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,881 in federal student loans.
Is Clark College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Clark College report median earnings of $42,356, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Clark College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Clark College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.02%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 7.5% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 13.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $82,100, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Clark College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Clark College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.19, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Clark College.
- Crafton Hills CollegeYucaipa, CA · Close peer31% grad $42,553 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Everett Community CollegeEverett, WA · Close peer38% grad $45,434 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Arkansas-Fort SmithFort Smith, AR · Close peer37% grad $41,102 earn 80% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Aims Community CollegeGreeley, CO · Close peer37% grad $41,887 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- The University of Tennessee-MartinMartin, TN · Close peer54% grad $44,213 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Red Rocks Community CollegeLakewood, CO · Close peer35% grad $46,288 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Clark College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Clark College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.19, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 10% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note