Public · Mostly associate degrees · Small city

Pierce College District

Lakewood, Washington. 5,313 undergraduates.

32%Graduation rate5 pts below the national median for similar colleges (38%)
$20,424Average net price per year105% above the national median for similar colleges ($9,953)
$52,562Median earnings 10 years after starting16% above the national median for similar colleges ($45,146)
$12,000Median debt at graduationAbout the same as the national median for similar colleges
Our read

Graduates' median debt ($12,000) equals 23% of former students' median earnings ten years after starting ($52,562). That is a light load relative to pay.

What families actually pay

Under $30,000$18,449
$30,000–$48,000$18,870
$48,001–$75,000$19,997
$75,001–$110,000$23,464
Over $110,000$27,945

Average yearly net price for first-time, full-time students who received federal aid, by family income. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships. Source: College Scorecard.

Compare net price across collegesPublished tuition and fees: $5,578 in-state, $6,163 out-of-state.

Do students finish, and what do they earn?

MeasureThis collegeSimilar colleges nationally
Graduation rate32%38%
Return for second year—64%
Median earnings, 6 years after starting$46,005$40,416
Median earnings, 10 years after starting$52,562$45,146
Median debt at graduation$12,000$12,000

Graduation rate within 150% of normal time; retention is the share of first-year students who return. Earnings are medians for former students who received federal aid, working and not enrolled. National comparison is the median for colleges of the same type (mostly associate degrees).

Programs and what graduates earn

51 programs reported

Program-level medians for graduates who received federal aid. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure to protect privacy, usually because the program is small. At four-year colleges, certificate graduates often earned a bachelor's at the same time, so their earnings can reflect the degree. Source: College Scorecard, field of study data.

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Quick answers

How much does Pierce College District cost per year?
The average net price at Pierce College District, what students pay after grants and scholarships, is $20,424 per year. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much do Pierce College District graduates earn?
Former Pierce College District students earn a median of $52,562 a year ten years after starting college. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What is the graduation rate at Pierce College District?
32% of Pierce College District students graduate within 150% of normal time. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
How much student debt do Pierce College District graduates have?
The median federal student debt at graduation from Pierce College District is $12,000. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.