Cascadia College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Cascadia College charges a net price of $12,281/yr after aid — a 2-year total of $24,562. Graduates earn a median $54,133 ten years after entry, $5,773/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 4.3 years — a 20-year net return of $90,898, a strong payback — the degree clears its cost fast. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Cascadia College's 4.3-year payback ranks #325 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 75% of them, and #7 of 64 in Washington.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $12,281/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (2 yrs) | $24,562 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $54,133 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $5,773/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $6,368 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 4.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $90,898 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Cascadia College's own numbers. Net price $12,281 × 2 years = $24,562 total. Median earnings $54,133 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $5,773 a year of premium. $24,562 ÷ $5,773 = 4.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $90,898. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Cascadia College students graduate with?
A median $6,368 in federal loans among completers, or 12% of the $54,133 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Cascadia College students graduate?
32% finish their degree — 68% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $24,562 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $76,756 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Cascadia College expensive compared with other Washington colleges?
Its $12,281 net price runs $255 above the $12,027 median across the 64 Washington colleges we profile, or $509 more across the full degree.