Head-to-head comparison
Clover Park Technical College vs Whatcom Community College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lakewood, WA
Clover Park Technical College
- Net price / year
- $9,864
- Earnings, 10 years
- $41,787
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Bellingham, WA
Whatcom Community College
- Net price / year
- $11,795
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,092
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Whatcom Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,092 against a $23,590 total, vs $41,787 at Clover Park Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clover Park Technical College | Whatcom Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,864 | $11,795 |
| Total net cost | $39,456 | $23,590 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,787 | $44,092 |
| Median debt | $12,112 | $10,643 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,916 | -$108,950 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Clover Park Technical College or Whatcom Community College?
Clover Park Technical College, at $9,864 a year after aid versus $11,795 — a gap of $1,931 a year, or $15,866 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 Clover Park Technical College or Whatcom Community College graduates earn more?
Whatcom Community College graduates report a median $44,092 ten years after entry, $2,305 more than the $41,787 at Clover Park Technical 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, Clover Park Technical College or Whatcom Community College?
Whatcom Community College: its completers carry a median $10,643 in federal loans versus $12,112 at Clover Park Technical College, a difference of $1,469. 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?
43% of students finish at Clover Park Technical College, against 36% at Whatcom Community 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.