Seattle Central College
- Graduation Rate
- 31% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,307 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,819 B+
- 49% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,953
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 27.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $27.6 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $27.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $938,451.
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% — 45% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $27.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Seattle Central College Matters
Seattle Central College is a public community college in Seattle, 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
- 3,953
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Humanities, Construction Trades, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Seattle Central 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 $8,819 a year after grants and scholarships — 49% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,307 ten years after enrolling — 6% 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 1.62 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
With around 4,000 students, Seattle Central College is a solid choice for those looking to dive into fields like Health Professions, Computer Science, or Physical Sciences. It’s a place where students can find a path that aligns with their interests and career goals. The college's focus on practical programs means you’ll be gaining skills that are in demand, preparing you for a variety of roles in today's job market.
Looking at life after graduation, students can expect to earn about $43,307 a year a decade after they leave. That figure is important because it reflects the financial return on your investment in education here. While the graduation rate is 31%, which might raise some eyebrows, it’s essential to consider that many students transfer to other schools for a bachelor's degree. This flexibility can be a significant advantage as you navigate your educational journey.
In terms of affordability, the net price for attending Seattle Central College is approximately $8,819 after financial aid, and the median debt is about $12,000. This means students are leaving with a manageable debt load, which can make a big difference in your early career years. Those who thrive here often appreciate a hands-on approach to learning and value the diverse community that the college fosters, making it a welcoming environment for many.
Rankings
- #20 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
- #23 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #25 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
- #25 Best Data Science Colleges in Washington
- #34 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #36 Best Colleges in Washington
- #40 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #41 Best Master's Programs in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Seattle Central 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 Seattle Central College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Seattle, Washington, Seattle Central College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 99%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $11,099
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 17:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.87
- First-Gen Students
- 44%
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 Seattle Central College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Seattle Central College is $5,745, 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 $8,819. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,883 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,184
- Out-of-State
- $5,745
- Avg Net Price
- $8,819
- Median Debt
- $12,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 3%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,883
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,893
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,422
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,989
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Seattle Central College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Seattle Central College report median earnings of $43,307, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $39,072
- 8 Years
- $39,518
- 10 Years
- $43,307
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.28x
- Loan Repayment (3yr)
- 79%
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
How Seattle 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 Seattle Central College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Seattle Central College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,819/year ($35,276 total). Graduates earn $43,307 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $973,727 in total earnings — a net gain of $938,451 (27.6× 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)
- $35,276
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $973,727
- Net Return
- $938,451
- ROI Multiple
- 27.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,819
- 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
- $7,980,908
- Federal Grants
- $1,292,697
- Investment Income
- $40,226
Top Programs
The fields Seattle Central 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.
- Health Professions 32%
- Humanities 25%
- Construction Trades 11%
- Computer Science & IT 10%
- Business & Marketing 6%
- Physical Sciences 5%
- Culinary & Personal Services 5%
- Visual & Performing Arts 4%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Seattle Central 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
- 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 Seattle Central College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Seattle, Washington, Seattle Central College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 31%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Seattle Central College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Seattle Central College is $5,745, 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 $8,819. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,883 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $12,000 in federal student loans.
Is Seattle Central College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Seattle Central College report median earnings of $43,307, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
How Connected Is Seattle Central 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 Seattle Central College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, 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 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Seattle Central College.
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Olympic CollegeBremerton, WA · Close peer33% grad $43,169 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Yavapai CollegePrescott, AZ · Close peer33% grad $39,890 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of the District of ColumbiaWashington, DC · Close peer30% grad $44,236 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Mt Hood Community CollegeGresham, OR · Close peer25% grad $41,125 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
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Seattle Central 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 Seattle Central College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.62, 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 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note