C+
Above Average
Score: 54/100
Overall (traditional)
C+
Outcome Rating
59/100 · earnings-weighted

Pierce College District

4-Year Public
📍 Lakewood, Washington 98498
Outcomes
C
51/100
Affordability
B
68/100
Resources
C+
58/100
Experience
B
71/100
Prestige
F
28/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

7,427
Total Enrollment
31%
Graduation Rate
N/A
Retention Rate
20.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
N/A
Acceptance Rate
$10,851
Avg Net Price
🏠 Housing Market Near Pierce College District ▼

47% of first-year students live off campus and not with family (U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS). Upper-year students at most universities move off campus at much higher rates, so near-campus rental demand is typically larger than this figure suggests.

Avg Home Value
$549,172
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,796
1-Year Change
+3.6%

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Pierce College District, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$47,532
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$39,406
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$12,000
Median debt at graduation
30.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
22.6%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 25% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 71st percentile among associate-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (WA wage index 1.18). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Pierce College District

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$55,849————$19,000

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Pierce College District Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $549,172
  • Avg rent near campus: $1,796/mo — vs ~$700/mo campus room rate
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 98409 (3.1% cap, Tacoma)

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🏆 Where Pierce College District Ranks

Rankings based on Repit College Grade among schools offering each program.

#10
Physical Sciences, General
of 30 schools
#15
Computer Graphics
of 32 schools
#23
Project Management
of 42 schools

Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $4,074 $4,599
Room $6,300
Total Cost (On-Campus) $22,949 $23,474

Financial Aid

49%
Receive Any Aid
28%
Receive Pell Grants
14%
Take Out Loans
$10,851
Avg Net Price

Net Price by Family Income

Family Income Average Net Price
$0 - $30,000$8,248
$30,001 - $48,000$8,417
$48,001 - $75,000$10,579
$75,001 - $110,000$14,936
$110,001+$16,315

Programs & Career Paths

Top Degree Programs

Programs ranked by number of degrees awarded annually.

Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 1,128 grads/yr Business/Commerce, General 96 grads/yr Early Childhood Education and Teaching 75 grads/yr Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration 54 grads/yr Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 46 grads/yr Physical Sciences, General 41 grads/yr Computer Graphics 40 grads/yr Business Administration and Management, General 40 grads/yr Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping 31 grads/yr Project Management 26 grads/yr Sport and Fitness Administration/Management 23 grads/yr Biology/Biological Sciences, General 23 grads/yr Crisis/Emergency/Disaster Management 20 grads/yr Veterinary/Animal Health Technology/Technician and Veterinary Assistant 20 grads/yr Dental Hygiene/Hygienist 20 grads/yr Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary 19 grads/yr General Office Occupations and Clerical Services 12 grads/yr Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General 10 grads/yr Construction Management, General 10 grads/yr System, Networking, and LAN/WAN Management/Manager 10 grads/yr

Related Career Paths

Careers that graduates from Pierce College District's top programs commonly pursue.

Postsecondary teachers, all other
$78k/yr 183,400 jobs
Chief executives
$206k/yr 309,400 jobs
Sales managers
$138k/yr 619,500 jobs
Managers, all other
$137k/yr 1,333,700 jobs
Industrial production managers
$121k/yr 241,900 jobs
Administrative services managers
$108k/yr 271,200 jobs
Construction managers
$107k/yr 550,300 jobs
Facilities managers
$105k/yr 151,400 jobs

Student Demographics

7,427
Total Students
63%
Women
43%
Traditional Age (18-24)
47%
Off-Campus Renters

👥 Race & Ethnicity

White 39%
Hispanic 19%
Black 9%
Asian 9%
Two or More 12%
Non-Resident 2%

🏠 Living Arrangements

On Campus 3%
Off-Campus (Renters) 47%
With Family 50%
🏘️ Rental Demand: ~3,483 students need off-campus housing

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 22%
Hybrid (Some Online) 31%
Fully Online 47%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 43%
25-64 (Adult) 30%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Pierce College District?
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution. Many schools with open enrollment or specialized programs do not report traditional acceptance rates.
How much does it cost to attend Pierce College District?
Tuition at Pierce College District is $4,074 for in-state students and $4,599 for out-of-state students . However, the average net price after financial aid is $10,851.
What is the graduation rate at Pierce College District?
The graduation rate at Pierce College District is 31%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Pierce College District a good school?
Pierce College District has a Repit College Score of 54/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (C): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (B): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (C+): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (B): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (F): Reputation and recognition
How many students attend Pierce College District?
Pierce College District has a total enrollment of 7,427 students.
Is there rental demand near Pierce College District?
Yes! Approximately 47% of students at Pierce College District live off-campus (not with family). That's roughly 3,483 students who need rental housing near campus. This represents significant rental demand, which affects housing availability and pricing in the Lakewood area.

Deciding between a dorm and buying near campus? Run the numbers for Pierce College District — four years of dorm costs vs. owning, including what you’d recover at resale. Buy vs Dorm calculator →

🎓 Similar Colleges to Pierce College District

Compare with other 4-Year public institutions of similar size.

C+
Clark College
Vancouver, WA · 7,149 students
C+
Spokane Community College
Spokane, WA · 6,286 students
C+
Seattle Central College
Seattle, WA · 5,210 students
C+
Walla Walla Community College
Walla Walla, WA · 2,982 students
C+
Lower Columbia College
Longview, WA · 2,412 students
C+
Green River College
Auburn, WA · 7,361 students

Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology