Head-to-head comparison
Clark College vs Pima Medical Institute-Renton: 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 Renton, WA
Pima Medical Institute-Renton
- Net price / year
- $31,578
- Earnings, 10 years
- $38,673
- 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 $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Renton. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Pima Medical Institute-Renton |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $31,578 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $126,312 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $38,673 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$320,052 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Pima Medical Institute-Renton?
Clark College, at $11,465 a year after aid versus $31,578 — a gap of $20,113 a year, or $103,382 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 Pima Medical Institute-Renton graduates earn more?
Clark College graduates report a median $42,356 ten years after entry, $3,683 more than the $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Renton. 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 Pima Medical Institute-Renton?
Pima Medical Institute-Renton: 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?
69% of students finish at Pima Medical Institute-Renton, 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.