Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Clark College vs Grays Harbor College: which has better ROI?

Public, Vancouver WA · vs · Public, Aberdeen WA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clark College comes closer — median earnings $42,356 against a $22,930 total, vs $40,865 at Grays Harbor College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureClark CollegeGrays Harbor College
Net price / yr$11,465$4,783
Total net cost$22,930$9,566
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,356$40,865
Median debt$10,881$11,075
Payback
20-year net return-$143,010-$159,466

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

Which is cheaper, Clark College or Grays Harbor College?

Grays Harbor College, at $4,783 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $6,682 a year, or $13,364 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 Grays Harbor College graduates earn more?

Clark College graduates report a median $42,356 ten years after entry, $1,491 more than the $40,865 at Grays Harbor 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 leaves students with less debt, Clark College or Grays Harbor College?

Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $11,075 at Grays Harbor College, a difference of $194. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

39% of students finish at Grays Harbor 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.

Clark College vs Grays Harbor College: frequently asked questions

Is Clark College or Grays Harbor College a better value?
Clark 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, Clark College or Grays Harbor College?
Grays Harbor College: $4,783/yr net price after aid versus $11,465/yr at Clark College — a difference of $6,682 a year, or about $13,364 over four years.
Do Clark College or Grays Harbor College graduates earn more?
Clark College graduates earn a median $42,356 ten years after entry, versus $40,865 at Grays Harbor College — a $1,491 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.