Head-to-head comparison
Clark College vs Highline 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 Des Moines, WA
Highline College
- Net price / year
- $9,879
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,869
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Highline College comes closer — median earnings $47,869 against a $19,758 total, vs $42,356 at Clark College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Highline College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $9,879 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $19,758 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $47,869 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$29,578 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Highline College?
Highline College, at $9,879 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $1,586 a year, or $3,172 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 Highline College graduates earn more?
Highline College graduates report a median $47,869 ten years after entry, $5,513 more than the $42,356 at Clark 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 Highline College?
Highline College: its completers carry a median $9,500 in federal loans versus $10,881 at Clark College, a difference of $1,381. 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 Clark College, against 35% at Highline 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.