Clark College vs Peninsula College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Clark College comes closer — median earnings $42,356 against a $22,930 total, vs $37,078 at Peninsula College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Peninsula College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $9,246 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $36,984 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $37,078 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $15,786 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$262,624 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Peninsula College?
Peninsula College, at $9,246 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $2,219 a year, or $14,054 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 Peninsula College graduates earn more?
Clark College graduates report a median $42,356 ten years after entry, $5,278 more than the $37,078 at Peninsula 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 Peninsula College?
Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $15,786 at Peninsula College, a difference of $4,905. 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 37% at Peninsula 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.