Head-to-head comparison
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus vs Cascadia College: which has better ROI?
Option A Tacoma, WA
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
- Net price / year
- $10,163
- Earnings, 10 years
- $78,466
- Payback
- 1.4 yrs
Option B Bothell, WA
Cascadia College
- Net price / year
- $12,281
- Earnings, 10 years
- $54,133
- Payback
- 4.3 yrs
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $40,652 in 1.4 years versus 4.3 years at Cascadia College, on median earnings of $78,466 vs $54,133 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus | Cascadia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,163 | $12,281 |
| Total net cost | $40,652 | $24,562 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $78,466 | $54,133 |
| Median debt | $14,615 | $6,368 |
| Payback | 1.4 yrs | 4.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $561,468 | $90,898 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus or Cascadia College?
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, at $10,163 a year after aid versus $12,281 — a gap of $2,118 a year, or $16,090 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-Tacoma Campus or Cascadia College graduates earn more?
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus graduates report a median $78,466 ten years after entry, $24,333 more than the $54,133 at Cascadia 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-Tacoma Campus or Cascadia College?
Cascadia College: its completers carry a median $6,368 in federal loans versus $14,615 at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, a difference of $8,247. 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?
63% of students finish at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, against 32% at Cascadia 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.