Head-to-head comparison
Clark College vs North Seattle 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 Seattle, WA
North Seattle College
- Net price / year
- $10,740
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,728
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Seattle College comes closer — median earnings $47,728 against a $42,960 total, vs $42,356 at Clark College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | North Seattle College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $10,740 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $42,960 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $47,728 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $15,458 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$55,600 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clark College or North Seattle College?
North Seattle College, at $10,740 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $725 a year, or $20,030 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 North Seattle College graduates earn more?
North Seattle College graduates report a median $47,728 ten years after entry, $5,372 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 North Seattle College?
Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $15,458 at North Seattle College, a difference of $4,577. 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 33% at North Seattle 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.