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Centralia College vs Pima Medical Institute-Seattle: which has better ROI?

Public, Centralia WA · vs · Private for-profit, Seattle WA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Centralia College comes closer — median earnings $43,140 against a $19,724 total, vs $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Seattle. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureCentralia CollegePima Medical Institute-Seattle
Net price / yr$9,862$31,016
Total net cost$19,724$124,064
Median earnings, 10 yrs$43,140$38,673
Median debt$9,500
Payback
20-year net return-$124,124-$317,804

College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.

Which is cheaper, Centralia College or Pima Medical Institute-Seattle?

Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $31,016 — a gap of $21,154 a year, or $104,340 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Centralia College or Pima Medical Institute-Seattle graduates earn more?

Centralia College graduates report a median $43,140 ten years after entry, $4,467 more than the $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Seattle. 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.

Which graduates more of its students?

68% of students finish at Pima Medical Institute-Seattle, against 42% at Centralia 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.

Centralia College vs Pima Medical Institute-Seattle: frequently asked questions

Is Centralia College or Pima Medical Institute-Seattle a better value?
Centralia College comes closer, but neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings — the field you study decides it here more than the school.
Which is cheaper, Centralia College or Pima Medical Institute-Seattle?
Centralia College: $9,862/yr net price after aid versus $31,016/yr at Pima Medical Institute-Seattle — a difference of $21,154 a year, or about $104,340 over four years.
Do Centralia College or Pima Medical Institute-Seattle graduates earn more?
Centralia College graduates earn a median $43,140 ten years after entry, versus $38,673 at Pima Medical Institute-Seattle — a $4,467 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.