Centralia College
Centralia, WA 98531-4099
About Centralia College
Centralia College is a public community college in Centralia, Washington, enrolling about 1,552 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $9,862 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $5,266. Student demographics in federal data include White (58.4%) and Hispanic or Latino (18.5%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Centralia College charges 4% below the national public median tuition ($5,266).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is 36% below.
- Average net price runs below the Washington median net price.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 41.72%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $43,140.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Centralia College is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 994% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centralia College | $5,266 | $9,862 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Washington (state median) | $8,256 | $9,863 | 70 |
| Town (locale median) | $9,600 | $14,971 | 1,517 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Centralia College really?
Key findings
- Centralia College charges 4% below the national public median tuition ($5,266).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is 36% below.
- Average net price runs below the Washington median net price.
Centralia College tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $5,266
Finding Centralia College charges 4% below the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $5,266. That is 4% below the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Washington median ($8,256), sticker tuition is 36% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.4×.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Centralia College versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Centralia College versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Centralia College is $9,862.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $9,862 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $1 below the Washington median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $5,109 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Centralia College, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Centralia College: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Centralia College—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$5,266
Out-of-state tuition
$5,651
Avg. net price
$9,862
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $8,471 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,395 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,021 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $13,121 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $21,064. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Centralia College is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies251
- Building Construction Technology/Technician79
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide59
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching58
- Business Administration and Management, General30
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Centralia College a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Centralia College is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Centralia College.
Campus
Location
Centralia, WA
City / state
- ZIP
- 98531-4099
- NCES locale
- Town distant
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 34% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Special Focus Four-Year: Medical Schools and Centers
Size
Enrollment
1,552
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 3,161
- Full-time share
- 70%
Student aid
Debt & aid
- Pell grant share
- 27.24%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Centralia College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Centralia College was not reported in the College Scorecard extract for this institution.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Centralia College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,335 | $4,755 | $5,880 |
| 2014 | $3,858 | $4,272 | $5,514 |
| 2015 | $4,188 | $4,600 | $5,293 |
| 2016 | $4,188 | $4,600 | $6,113 |
| 2017 | $4,343 | $4,766 | $6,053 |
| 2018 | $4,437 | $4,872 | $6,565 |
| 2019 | $4,542 | $4,991 | $6,354 |
| 2020 | $4,652 | $5,113 | $5,949 |
| 2021 | $4,770 | $5,239 | $7,261 |
| 2022 | $4,891 | $5,381 | $7,303 |
| 2023 | $5,109 | $5,643 | $7,600 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Admissions funnel data is not available for this institution.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Score distribution is not available for this institution.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA range is not available for this institution.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Centralia College reported total enrollment of about 1,552 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 42% male and 58% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (58.4%), Hispanic or Latino (18.5%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (9.9%). About 27.24% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 46.6% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
70.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Centralia College in 2024 is 1,552 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 3,161 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
41.72% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Centralia College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 38% male / 62% female
- Building Construction Technology/Technician: 100% male / 0% female
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 20% male / 80% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Centralia College graduates earn a median of $43,140 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Centralia College.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $43,140. Average net price used in cost models: $9,862.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Centralia College graduates report median earnings of $43,140 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Centralia College.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (27 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Centralia College.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Centralia College graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Centralia College—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$15M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Washington median 1.3× the median ($11.9M)
- Far West median 0.90× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 0.57× the median ($26.4M)
- Washington median 2.0× the median ($4,513)
- Far West median 1.2× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 0.74× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Washington median 5.1 pp above median (94.9%)
- Far West median 54.3 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,395
- Washington median near the median ($9,588)
- Far West median near the median ($9,635)
- U.S. median 1.2× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $6,813
- Washington median 0.79× the median ($8,580)
- Far West median near the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.93× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Centralia College at a glance
Centralia College
Centralia College is a public institution in Centralia, WA, classified as Special Focus Four-Year: Medical Schools and Centers.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesBuilding Construction Technology/TechnicianNursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian58.4%Hispanic or Latino18.5%Race/ethnicity unknown9.9%
- Opportunity College (2025)
- Higher access & higher earnings · Browse OCU directory
Schools near Centralia College
Other campuses in Centralia, WA when available, plus nearby institutions in Washington.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade D) within Washington, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Centralia College located?
Centralia College is located in Centralia, WA.
What is Centralia College's tuition?
Centralia College tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $5,266 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $9,862 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Centralia College cost?
Reported tuition is $5,266 and average net price is $9,862 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,307 annually.
What explains Centralia College's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($9,862), completion (41.7% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($43,140). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Centralia College?
Centralia College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 3,161 students, White (58.4%), Hispanic or Latino (18.5%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Centralia College?
About 46.6% of students at Centralia College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Centralia College earn?
Median earnings are $35,989 six years after entry and $43,140 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Centralia College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 41.7% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
Is Centralia College public or private?
Centralia College is a public institution located in Centralia, WA.
Is Centralia College an HBCU?
No. Centralia College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Centralia College a tribal college?
No. Centralia College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Centralia College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Centralia College does not meet that proxy (reported share 18.5%).
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Washington college profile
- Washington college costs
- Washington colleges by ROI
- Washington trade schools profile
- Centralia, Washington city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Washington
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.