Clark College vs Spokane Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Spokane Community College comes closer — median earnings $41,984 against a $10,946 total, vs $42,356 at Clark College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Spokane Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $5,473 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $10,946 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $41,984 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $13,501 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$138,466 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Spokane Community College?
Spokane Community College, at $5,473 a year after aid versus $11,465 — a gap of $5,992 a year, or $11,984 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 Spokane Community College graduates earn more?
Clark College graduates report a median $42,356 ten years after entry, $372 more than the $41,984 at Spokane Community 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 Spokane Community College?
Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $13,501 at Spokane Community College, a difference of $2,620. 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 33% at Spokane Community 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.