Wenatchee Valley College
#6 Best Education Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 41% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $41,127 C
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $9,722 B
- 43% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,759
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.9 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Best Education Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $23.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $888,801.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 41% — 27% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Wenatchee Valley College Matters
Wenatchee Valley College is a public community college in Wenatchee, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average 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
- 1,759
- Setting
- Urban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Education, Health Professions, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Wenatchee Valley 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 $9,722 a year after grants and scholarships — 43% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $41,127 ten years after enrolling — 1% above the typical college, against $10,332 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 45% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.03 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Wenatchee Valley College enrolls about 1,759 students, making it a comfortable size for those seeking a more personalized educational experience. The college caters well to individuals interested in areas like Humanities, Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, and Mechanic & Repair Tech. With such a diverse set of programs, students can find their niche while also benefiting from smaller class sizes that enhance interaction with faculty and peers.
Graduates typically earn around $41,127 a decade after finishing their studies. This figure indicates that many students see a solid return on their investment in education. Affordability plays a big role here, too; the net price after financial aid is about $9,722, which is manageable for most students. While 27% of the student body receives Pell Grants, it helps provide a cushion for those who need it most, allowing them to focus on their studies rather than financial stress.
When it comes to the practical side, the median debt for graduates stands at $10,332, which is relatively low compared to many institutions. This makes Wenatchee Valley College a good option for students who are budget-conscious yet serious about their education. The environment here tends to attract those who are motivated and ready to engage, making it a solid choice for those looking to build a better future without overwhelming financial burdens.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Wenatchee Valley 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 Wenatchee Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Wenatchee, Washington, Wenatchee Valley College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,907
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.64
- First-Gen Students
- 53%
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 Wenatchee Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wenatchee Valley College is $5,636, 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 $9,722. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,094 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,332 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,267
- Out-of-State
- $5,636
- Avg Net Price
- $9,722
- Median Debt
- $10,332
- Pell Grant Rate
- 27%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,094
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,336
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $10,806
- Family Income $110K+
- $18,726
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Wenatchee Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wenatchee Valley College report median earnings of $41,127, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $37,011
- 8 Years
- $38,684
- 10 Years
- $41,127
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.25x
- Earning > $25K
- 50%
Earnings Trajectory
How Wenatchee 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 Wenatchee Valley College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Wenatchee Valley College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,722/year ($38,888 total). Graduates earn $41,127 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $927,689 in total earnings — a net gain of $888,801 (23.9× your investment). The median debt is $10,332, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 41% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $38,888
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $927,689
- Net Return
- $888,801
- ROI Multiple
- 23.9×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,722
- Median Debt
- $10,332
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 41%
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 Wenatchee Valley College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wenatchee Valley 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 1.56%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% 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 11.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.56%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 11.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.6%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $61,200
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $9,922,641
- Federal Grants
- $746,647
- Investment Income
- $6,579
Top Programs
The fields Wenatchee Valley 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 49%
- Education 19%
- Health Professions 15%
- Business & Marketing 5%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 4%
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Criminal Justice 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Wenatchee Valley 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 Wenatchee Valley College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Wenatchee, Washington, Wenatchee Valley College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 41%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Wenatchee Valley College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Wenatchee Valley College is $5,636, 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 $9,722. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,094 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,332 in federal student loans.
Is Wenatchee Valley College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Wenatchee Valley College report median earnings of $41,127, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Wenatchee Valley College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Wenatchee Valley 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 1.56%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.6% 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 11.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $61,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Wenatchee Valley 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 Wenatchee Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.03, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Wenatchee Valley College.
- Centralia CollegeCentralia, WA · Close peer44% grad $43,140 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Feather River Community College DistrictQuincy, CA · Close peer40% grad $38,142 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Concord UniversityAthens, WV · Close peer41% grad $42,703 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Maine at Presque IslePresque Isle, ME · Close peer45% grad $40,956 earn 100% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Western Nevada CollegeCarson City, NV · Close peer39% grad $41,987 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lindsey Wilson UniversityColumbia, KY · Close peer41% grad $41,129 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Wenatchee Valley 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 Wenatchee Valley College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.03, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note