Clark College vs Olympic College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Olympic College comes closer — median earnings $43,169 against a $14,344 total, vs $42,356 at Clark College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Olympic College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $7,172 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $14,344 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $43,169 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $12,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$118,164 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Olympic College?
Olympic College, at $7,172 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $4,293 a year, or $8,586 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 Olympic College graduates earn more?
Olympic College graduates report a median $43,169 ten years after entry, $813 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 leaves students with less debt, Clark College or Olympic College?
Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Olympic College, a difference of $1,119. 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 Clark College, against 31% at Olympic 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.