Grays Harbor College
#1 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 35% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $40,865 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $4,783 A
- 72% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,010
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 55.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $55.7 over 20 years. Ranked #1 in Most Affordable Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $55.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,047,176.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 35% — 38% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $55.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Grays Harbor College
Grays Harbor College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
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
- 1,010
- Setting
- Rural
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Transportation, Education
Why students choose Grays Harbor 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 $4,783 a year after grants and scholarships — 72% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $40,865 ten years after enrolling — 0% above the typical college, against $11,075 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.0% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 29% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.85 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Grays Harbor College might be a great fit for students looking for a close-knit community focused on practical skills and career readiness. With around 1,010 students, it offers a personalized experience where you can dive into programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Education, and Precision Production. The emphasis here is on preparing for real-world challenges rather than just hitting the books.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $40,865 within ten years, which is a solid starting point for many. While the graduation rate is 35%, those who complete their programs tend to find decent opportunities in their fields. Affordability is a big plus here too, as many students benefit from significant financial aid, making the investment in education more manageable.
Considering the cost, the net price after aid is about $4,783, and with a median debt of $11,075, students leave with a relatively low financial burden. This environment tends to attract those who are motivated to succeed and want to make a difference in their community. It's a place where hard work and dedication can lead to rewarding outcomes.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Grays Harbor 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 Grays Harbor College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Grays Harbor College, located in Aberdeen, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 97%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,138
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
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 Grays Harbor College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grays Harbor College is $12,553, 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 $4,783. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,988 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,075 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,593
- Out-of-State
- $12,553
- Avg Net Price
- $4,783
- Median Debt
- $11,075
- Pell Grant Rate
- 28%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $2,988
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $2,129
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,781
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,073
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Grays Harbor College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grays Harbor College report median earnings of $40,865, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $33,119
- 8 Years
- $37,645
- 10 Years
- $40,865
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.27x
- Earning > $25K
- 43%
Earnings Trajectory
How Grays 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 Grays Harbor College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Grays Harbor College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $4,783/year ($19,132 total). Graduates earn $40,865 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,066,308 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,047,176 (55.7× your investment). The median debt is $11,075, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 35% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $19,132
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,066,308
- Net Return
- $1,047,176
- ROI Multiple
- 55.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $4,783
- Median Debt
- $11,075
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
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 Grays Harbor College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grays Harbor College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.98%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $58,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.98%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 17.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $58,600
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $1,354,122
- Investment Income
- $51,040
Top Programs
The fields Grays Harbor College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 43%
- Health Professions 11%
- Transportation 11%
- Education 7%
- Business & Marketing 7%
- Precision Production 3%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 1%
- Physical Sciences 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Grays Harbor 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
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Grays Harbor College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Grays Harbor College, located in Aberdeen, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 35%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Grays Harbor College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Grays Harbor College is $12,553, 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 $4,783. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $2,988 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,075 in federal student loans.
Is Grays Harbor College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Grays Harbor College report median earnings of $40,865, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Grays Harbor College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Grays Harbor College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.98%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 17.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 11.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $58,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Grays Harbor College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Grays Harbor College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.85, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Grays Harbor College.
- University of Science and Arts of OklahomaChickasha, OK · Close peer41% grad $41,913 earn 66% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- North Central State CollegeMansfield, OH · Close peer35% grad $38,158 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Wyoming Community CollegeRock Springs, WY · Close peer33% grad $40,939 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Haskell Indian Nations UniversityLawrence, KS · Close peer31% grad $37,043 earn 90% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Northern New Mexico CollegeEspanola, NM · Close peer30% grad $38,112 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Edison State Community CollegePiqua, OH · Close peer38% grad $41,360 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Grays Harbor College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Grays Harbor College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.85, 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 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note