Pierce College District
Lakewood, WA 98498-1999
About Pierce College District
Pierce College District is a public community college in Lakewood, Washington, serving roughly 5,313 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $10,222 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $5,418. Student demographics in federal data include White (34.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (20.2%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key findings
- Pierce College District charges 2% below the national public median tuition ($5,418).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is 34% below.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 30.77%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,532.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Pierce College District is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 1062% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pierce College District | $5,418 | $10,222 | 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 Pierce College District really?
Key findings
- Pierce College District charges 2% below the national public median tuition ($5,418).
- Versus the Washington median, sticker tuition is 34% below.
Pierce College District tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $5,418
Finding Pierce College District charges 2% below the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $5,418. That is 2% below the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Washington median ($8,256), sticker tuition is 34% below. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is about 0.5×.
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 Pierce College District versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Pierce College District versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Pierce College District is $10,222.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $10,222 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $359 above the Washington median net price. Versus town campuses, net price runs $4,749 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 Pierce College District, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Pierce College District: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Pierce College District—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
$5,418
Out-of-state tuition
$5,976
Avg. net price
$10,222
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $7,816 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $9,066 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $11,592 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $14,309 |
| $110,001+ | $17,249 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $21,672. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Pierce College District is known for
Top program completions
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies1,128
- Business/Commerce, General96
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching75
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration54
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse46
See earnings & programs for more.
Is Pierce College District a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Pierce College District 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 Pierce College District.
Campus
Location
Lakewood, WA
City / state
- ZIP
- 98498-1999
- NCES locale
- Town
Compared with Town campuses nationally, net price is 32% below the median for Town campuses ($14,971 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- Far West
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
Size
Enrollment
5,313
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 11,767
- Full-time share
- 57%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$12,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 22.59%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Pierce College District.
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 Pierce College District was 0.20%.
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 Pierce College District 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 | $3,777 | $8,967 | $7,137 |
| 2014 | $3,777 | $8,967 | $6,804 |
| 2015 | $3,643 | $8,981 | $6,762 |
| 2016 | $3,648 | $4,056 | $7,182 |
| 2017 | $3,783 | $4,197 | $6,182 |
| 2018 | $3,862 | $4,290 | $7,293 |
| 2019 | $4,041 | $4,483 | $8,926 |
| 2020 | $4,173 | $4,627 | $8,939 |
| 2021 | $4,356 | $4,818 | $6,861 |
| 2022 | $4,539 | $4,902 | $7,974 |
| 2023 | $4,686 | $5,211 | $10,123 |
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
Pierce College District reported total enrollment of about 5,313 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 37% male and 63% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (34.6%), Hispanic or Latino (20.2%), and Race/ethnicity unknown (11.5%). About 22.59% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 45.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
57.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Pierce College District in 2024 is 5,313 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 11,767 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
30.77% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Pierce College District 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: 34% male / 66% female
- Business/Commerce, General: 50% male / 50% female
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 8% male / 92% 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.
Pierce College District graduates earn a median of $47,532 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Pierce College District.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $47,532. Median federal loan debt: $12,000. Average net price used in cost models: $10,222.
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 Pierce College District graduates report median earnings of $47,532 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 Pierce College District.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (39 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Pierce College District.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Pierce College District graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Pierce College District—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$4.6M
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Washington median 0.39× the median ($11.9M)
- Far West median 0.28× the median ($16.8M)
- U.S. median 0.17× the median ($26.4M)
- Washington median 0.17× the median ($4,513)
- Far West median 0.10× the median ($7,260)
- U.S. median 0.06× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 94.8%
- Washington median 0.1 pp below median (94.9%)
- Far West median 49.1 pp above median (45.7%)
- U.S. median 36.8 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $9,325
- 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: $6,475
- Washington median 0.75× the median ($8,580)
- Far West median 0.92× the median ($7,030)
- U.S. median 0.89× 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.
Pierce College District at a glance
Pierce College District
Pierce College District is a public institution in Lakewood, WA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal StudiesBusiness/Commerce, GeneralEarly Childhood Education & Teaching
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian34.6%Hispanic or Latino20.2%Race/ethnicity unknown11.5%
Schools near Pierce College District
Other campuses in Lakewood, 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 Pierce College District located?
Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA.
What is Pierce College District's tuition?
Pierce College District tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $5,418 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $10,222 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Pierce College District cost?
Reported tuition is $5,418 and average net price is $10,222 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,982 annually.
What explains Pierce College District's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($10,222), completion (30.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($47,532). 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 Pierce College District?
Pierce College District reports undergraduate enrollment of about 11,767 students, White (34.6%), Hispanic or Latino (20.2%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Pierce College District?
About 45.3% of students at Pierce College District are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Pierce College District earn?
Median earnings are $39,406 six years after entry and $47,532 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Pierce College District?
The 150%-time completion rate is 30.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Pierce College District students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $12,000.
Is Pierce College District public or private?
Pierce College District is a public institution located in Lakewood, WA.
Is Pierce College District an HBCU?
No. Pierce College District is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Pierce College District a tribal college?
No. Pierce College District is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
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
- Lakewood, 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.