Head-to-head comparison
Clark College vs UEI College-Tacoma: 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 Tacoma, WA
UEI College-Tacoma
- Net price / year
- $36,850
- Earnings, 10 years
- $30,848
- 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 $30,848 at UEI College-Tacoma. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | UEI College-Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $36,850 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $147,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $30,848 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$497,640 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clark College or UEI College-Tacoma?
Clark College, at $11,465 a year after aid versus $36,850 — a gap of $25,385 a year, or $124,470 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 UEI College-Tacoma graduates earn more?
Clark College graduates report a median $42,356 ten years after entry, $11,508 more than the $30,848 at UEI College-Tacoma. 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 UEI College-Tacoma?
UEI College-Tacoma: 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?
58% of students finish at UEI College-Tacoma, 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.