Head-to-head comparison
Pierce College District vs Clark College: which has better ROI?
Option A Lakewood, WA
Pierce College District
- Net price / year
- $10,222
- Earnings, 10 years
- $47,532
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Vancouver, WA
Clark College
- Net price / year
- $11,465
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,356
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Pierce College District comes closer — median earnings $47,532 against a $20,444 total, vs $42,356 at Clark College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Pierce College District | Clark College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,222 | $11,465 |
| Total net cost | $20,444 | $22,930 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,532 | $42,356 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $10,881 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$37,004 | -$143,010 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Pierce College District or Clark College?
Pierce College District, at $10,222 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $1,243 a year, or $2,486 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 Pierce College District or Clark College graduates earn more?
Pierce College District graduates report a median $47,532 ten years after entry, $5,176 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, Pierce College District or Clark College?
Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Pierce College District, a difference of $1,119. 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 31% at Pierce College District. 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.