South Puget Sound Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 44% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $45,039 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $9,132 B+
- 47% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,075
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 31.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $31.2 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $31.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,102,836.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 44% — 24% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $31.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why South Puget Sound Community College Matters
South Puget Sound Community College is a public community college in Olympia, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average 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
- 3,075
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Education
Why students choose South Puget Sound Community 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 $9,132 a year after grants and scholarships — 47% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $45,039 ten years after enrolling — 10% above the typical college, against $11,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 37% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.10 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 3,075 students, South Puget Sound Community College is a great fit for those looking to enter fields like Humanities, Business & Marketing, Precision Production, Health Professions, or Education. It stands out for its focused programs that cater to practical skills and career readiness. If you’re someone who values community and a hands-on approach to learning, this college is worth considering.
After graduation, students earn an average of $45,039 within ten years. That’s a solid starting point for many, especially when considering the reasonable net price of $9,132 after aid. While 44% of students graduate, it’s clear that those who do often find themselves in a good position to move up in their careers, especially in fields that are in high demand.
Looking at the financial side, the median debt for graduates is $11,000. This is relatively manageable, especially when you compare it to the earnings potential post-graduation. Students who thrive here often come from diverse backgrounds and appreciate the affordability and accessibility of education. It’s a supportive environment that encourages both personal and professional growth.
Rankings
- #12 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #13 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
- #18 Best Colleges in Washington
- #18 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
- #18 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #18 Best Data Science Colleges in Washington
- #21 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #32 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective South Puget Sound Community 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 South Puget Sound Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
South Puget Sound Community College, located in Olympia, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 92%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,271
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.76
- First-Gen Students
- 43%
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 South Puget Sound Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Puget Sound Community College is $5,813, 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 $9,132. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,757 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,252
- Out-of-State
- $5,813
- Avg Net Price
- $9,132
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 22%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,757
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $8,765
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,655
- Family Income $110K+
- $16,766
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 South Puget Sound Community 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 South Puget Sound Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Puget Sound Community College earn a median of $45,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,270
- 8 Years
- $40,105
- 10 Years
- $45,039
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 51%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (153)
- 32%
- 100% (153)
- 32%
- 100% (153)
- 32%
- 100% (153)
- 32%
How South 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 South Puget Sound Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, South Puget Sound Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,132/year ($36,528 total). Graduates earn $45,039 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,139,364 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,102,836 (31.2× your investment). The median debt is $11,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 44% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $36,528
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,139,364
- Net Return
- $1,102,836
- ROI Multiple
- 31.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,132
- Median Debt
- $11,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
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 South Puget Sound Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
South Puget Sound Community 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 1.74%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10% 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 17.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $73,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.74%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 17.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $100,404
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,342,688
- Investment Income
- $-11,938
Top Programs
The fields South Puget Sound Community 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 56%
- Business & Marketing 10% $31,312 early-career
- Health Professions 8% $31,312 early-career
- Education 7%
- Computer Science & IT 5% $58,042 early-career
- Precision Production 5%
- Biology & Biomedical 3%
- Physical Sciences 3%
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 South Puget Sound Community 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 South Puget Sound Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
South Puget Sound Community College, located in Olympia, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend South Puget Sound Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at South Puget Sound Community College is $5,813, 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 $9,132. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,757 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $11,000 in federal student loans.
Is South Puget Sound Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of South Puget Sound Community College earn a median of $45,039, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does South Puget Sound Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
South Puget Sound Community 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 1.74%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10% 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 17.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $73,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is South Puget Sound Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at South Puget Sound Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), 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 South Puget Sound Community College.
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of South Carolina AikenAiken, SC · Close peer40% grad $45,603 earn 79% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Fairmont State UniversityFairmont, WV · Close peer46% grad $46,857 earn 99% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar net price
- Indiana University-SoutheastNew Albany, IN · Close peer36% grad $47,596 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indiana University-EastRichmond, IN · Close peer42% grad $47,156 earn 67% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
- Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplin, MO · Close peer40% grad $42,620 earn 97% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is South Puget Sound Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at South Puget Sound Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.10, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), 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