Clark College vs Centralia College: 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 $42,356 at Clark College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Centralia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $9,862 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $19,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $43,140 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$124,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Centralia College?
Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $1,603 a year, or $3,206 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Clark College or Centralia College graduates earn more?
Centralia College graduates report a median $43,140 ten years after entry, $784 more than the $42,356 at Clark College. 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?
42% of students finish at Centralia College, against 39% at Clark 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.