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Green River College

Public Auburn, WA · Urban · Far West · 80% data
A+ Diversity B- Earnings B- Value
Graduation Rate
40% D
Lower completion rate than most colleges
Earnings (10yr)
$50,712 B-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$13,803 C+
19% less than the typical college
Enrollment
4,965
Earnings +24% vs avg
Graduation -30% vs avg
Net Price +-19% vs avg

Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.3 over 20 years.

22.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $22.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,178,405.

What The Data Says

  1. A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Earnings 24% above the national college median.

  3. Graduation of 40% — 30% below the national average.

  4. Every $1 invested returns $22.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

Why Green River College Matters

Green River College is a public community college in Auburn, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Public Community College
Carnegie Class
Baccalaureate College
Enrollment
4,965
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing

Why students choose Green River College

Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Close mentorship
A small, undergraduate-focused community
Strength in Humanities
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 35% overall
B-
Earnings
$50,712 median
B-
Value
3.7× net price
C+
Affordability
$13,803/yr net
D
Graduation
40% graduate
A+
Diversity
0.86 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

At Green River College, with nearly 5,000 students enrolled, the focus is on practical education that meets the needs of our community. Students here often dive into programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Computer Science & IT, Business & Marketing, and Transportation. Each of these fields opens doors to various career paths, making this college a fitting choice for those who want to gain skills that are directly applicable in the workforce.

When we look at life after graduation, the figures are encouraging. Graduates earn an average of $50,712 a decade after finishing their studies. This level of income is significant, especially considering the affordable net price of $13,803 after aid. While the graduation rate stands at 40%, those who do complete their degrees seem to find opportunities that help them advance economically, which speaks to the supportive environment that Green River offers.

Looking at the practical aspects, students tend to leave with a median debt of $11,891, which is relatively manageable. The financial landscape here suggests that many students thrive, especially those who are focused on building a career in fields with strong job prospects. With a Pell Grant rate of 19%, Green River College serves a diverse student body, making it a solid option for those seeking both education and a pathway to a stable future.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Green River College is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Green River College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Green River College, located in Auburn, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$10,016
Student–Faculty Ratio
12:1
Diversity Index
0.86
First-Gen Students
45%

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 Green River College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Green River College is $5,263, 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 $13,803. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,415 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,891 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$4,711
Out-of-State
$5,263
Avg Net Price
$13,803
Median Debt
$11,891
Pell Grant Rate
19%
Federal Loan Rate
6%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$11,415
Family Income $30K–$48K
$12,433
Family Income $48K–$75K
$14,756
Family Income $110K+
$21,533

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Graduate Outcomes

Is Green River College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Green River College earn a median of $50,712, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$43,127
8 Years
$44,641
10 Years
$50,712
Debt-to-Earnings
0.23x
Earning > $25K
56%

Earnings Trajectory

$43,127 6yr $44,641 8yr $50,712 10yr

How Green Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation40%Earnings 10yr$51KNet Price$14KMedian Debt$12KPell Grant Rate19%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$11K$0-30K$12K$30-48K$15K$48-75K$22K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Green River College Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Green River College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $13,803/year ($55,212 total). Graduates earn $50,712 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,233,617 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,178,405 (22.3× your investment). The median debt is $11,891, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 40% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$55,212
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,233,617
Net Return
$1,178,405
ROI Multiple
22.3×
Cost Per Year
$13,803
Median Debt
$11,891
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
40%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is Green River 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 Green River College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), 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.

Economic Connectedness
1.40
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.01
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
5.9%
Support Ratio
0.94
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Federal Grants
$2,876,762
Investment Income
$875,380

Top Programs

The fields Green River 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Green River College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Green River College, located in Auburn, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 40%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Green River College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Green River College is $5,263, 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 $13,803. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,415 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,891 in federal student loans.

Is Green River College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Green River College earn a median of $50,712, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

How Connected Is Green River 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 Green River College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), 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.

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Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Green River College.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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