Pierce College District
- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,532 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $10,222 B
- 40% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 5,313
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 29.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $29.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,158,286.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 31% — 46% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $29.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Pierce College District Matters
Pierce College District is a public community college in Lakewood, 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
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 5,313
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education
Why students choose Pierce College District
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 $10,222 a year after grants and scholarships — 40% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,532 ten years after enrolling — 17% above the typical college, against $12,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.39 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
At Pierce College District, you'll find a welcoming environment that suits a diverse range of students, particularly those interested in practical fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Criminal Justice, and Education. With an enrollment of about 5,300, the college fosters a close-knit community where students can thrive academically and personally.
Looking at what happens after graduation, the earnings potential is promising, with graduates making an average of $47,532 within a decade of completing their studies. Affordability also plays a key role here, with a net price of $10,222 after aid, which makes it feasible for many to pursue their education without overwhelming debt. It’s important to note that 23% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting that financial support is available for those who need it.
In terms of finances, the median debt for graduates stands at $12,000, which is quite manageable compared to the earnings. Students who tend to thrive at Pierce College are often those who are focused and take advantage of the supportive community and available resources. The combination of affordable tuition, supportive programs, and a clear path to employment makes Pierce a solid choice for many aspiring professionals.
Rankings
- #27 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
- #28 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
- #28 Best Data Science Colleges in Washington
- #29 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #35 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #37 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #38 Best Colleges in Washington
- #38 Best Business Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Pierce College District 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 Pierce College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Pierce College District, located in Lakewood, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 95%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,325
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 21:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.81
- 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 Pierce College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pierce College District is $5,976, 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 $10,222. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,816 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,418
- Out-of-State
- $5,976
- Avg Net Price
- $10,222
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 23%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 11%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,816
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,066
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,592
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,249
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 Pierce College District — 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 Pierce College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pierce College District earn a median of $47,532, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,406
- 8 Years
- $44,552
- 10 Years
- $47,532
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 56%
Earnings Trajectory
How Pierce Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Pierce College District Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Pierce College District delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $10,222/year ($40,888 total). Graduates earn $47,532 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,199,174 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,158,286 (29.3× your investment). The median debt is $12,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 31% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $40,888
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,199,174
- Net Return
- $1,158,286
- ROI Multiple
- 29.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $10,222
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $4,910,563
- Investment Income
- $37,663
Top Programs
The fields Pierce College District 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 62%
- Business & Marketing 11% $38,698 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $56,154 early-career
- Education 5% $29,935 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4%
- Computer Science & IT 4% $45,495 early-career
- Physical Sciences 2%
- Biology & Biomedical 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 Pierce College District'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
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Pierce College District? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Pierce College District, located in Lakewood, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Pierce College District? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Pierce College District is $5,976, 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 $10,222. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,816 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Pierce College District Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Pierce College District earn a median of $47,532, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Pierce College District? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Pierce College District. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Pierce College District.
- Arapahoe Community CollegeLittleton, CO · Close peer28% grad $48,341 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma, WA · Close peer32% grad $47,168 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Red Rocks Community CollegeLakewood, CO · Close peer35% grad $46,288 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Columbia Basin CollegePasco, WA · Close peer30% grad $46,680 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
- Paradise Valley Community CollegePhoenix, AZ · Close peer19% grad $47,196 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Pierce College District? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Pierce College District. Its economic connectedness score is 1.39, 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 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note