Head-to-head comparison
Clark College vs Grays Harbor College: which has better ROI?
Option A Vancouver, WA
Clark College
- Net price / year
- $11,465
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,356
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Aberdeen, WA
Grays Harbor College
- Net price / year
- $4,783
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,865
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clark College comes closer — median earnings $42,356 against a $22,930 total, vs $40,865 at Grays Harbor College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Grays Harbor College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $4,783 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $9,566 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $40,865 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $11,075 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$159,466 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Grays Harbor College?
Grays Harbor College, at $4,783 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $6,682 a year, or $13,364 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Clark College or Grays Harbor College graduates earn more?
Clark College graduates report a median $42,356 ten years after entry, $1,491 more than the $40,865 at Grays Harbor College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Clark College or Grays Harbor College?
Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $11,075 at Grays Harbor College, a difference of $194. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
39% of students finish at Grays Harbor College, against 39% at Clark College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.