Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Clark College vs Northwest Indian College: which has better ROI?

Public, Vancouver WA · vs · Public, Bellingham 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 $35,447 at Northwest Indian College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureClark CollegeNorthwest Indian College
Net price / yr$11,465$3,136
Total net cost$22,930$6,272
Median earnings, 10 yrs$42,356$35,447
Median debt$10,881
Payback
20-year net return-$143,010-$264,532

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

Which is cheaper, Clark College or Northwest Indian College?

Northwest Indian College, at $3,136 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $8,329 a year, or $16,658 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 Northwest Indian College graduates earn more?

Clark College graduates report a median $42,356 ten years after entry, $6,909 more than the $35,447 at Northwest Indian 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?

39% of students finish at Clark College, against 18% at Northwest Indian 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 Northwest Indian College: frequently asked questions

Is Clark College or Northwest Indian 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 Northwest Indian College?
Northwest Indian College: $3,136/yr net price after aid versus $11,465/yr at Clark College — a difference of $8,329 a year, or about $16,658 over four years.
Do Clark College or Northwest Indian College graduates earn more?
Clark College graduates earn a median $42,356 ten years after entry, versus $35,447 at Northwest Indian College — a $6,909 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.