Head-to-head comparison
University of Washington-Seattle Campus vs Seattle Central College: which has better ROI?
Option A Seattle, WA
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
- Net price / year
- $14,091
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,466
- Payback
- 1.9 yrs
Option B Seattle, WA
Seattle Central College
- Net price / year
- $8,819
- Earnings, 10 years
- $43,307
- Payback
- No payback
University of Washington-Seattle Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $56,364 in 1.9 years versus not at all at Seattle Central College, on median earnings of $78,466 vs $43,307 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Washington-Seattle Campus | Seattle Central College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $14,091 | $8,819 |
| Total net cost | $56,364 | $17,638 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,466 | $43,307 |
| Median debt | $14,615 | $12,000 |
| Payback | 1.9 yrs | — |
| 20-year net return | $545,756 | -$118,698 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Washington-Seattle Campus or Seattle Central College?
Seattle Central College, at $8,819 a year after aid versus $14,091 — a gap of $5,272 a year, or $38,726 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 University of Washington-Seattle Campus or Seattle Central College graduates earn more?
University of Washington-Seattle Campus graduates report a median $78,466 ten years after entry, $35,159 more than the $43,307 at Seattle Central 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, University of Washington-Seattle Campus or Seattle Central College?
Seattle Central College: its completers carry a median $12,000 in federal loans versus $14,615 at University of Washington-Seattle Campus, a difference of $2,615. 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?
85% of students finish at University of Washington-Seattle Campus, against 32% at Seattle Central 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.