Centralia College vs UEI College-Tacoma: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Centralia College comes closer — median earnings $43,140 against a $19,724 total, vs $30,848 at UEI College-Tacoma. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Centralia College | UEI College-Tacoma |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,862 | $36,850 |
| Total net cost | $19,724 | $147,400 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,140 | $30,848 |
| Median debt | — | $9,500 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$124,124 | -$497,640 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Centralia College or UEI College-Tacoma?
Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $36,850 — a gap of $26,988 a year, or $127,676 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 UEI College-Tacoma graduates earn more?
Centralia College graduates report a median $43,140 ten years after entry, $12,292 more than the $30,848 at UEI College-Tacoma. 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?
58% of students finish at UEI College-Tacoma, 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.