Clark College vs Yakima Valley College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Yakima Valley College comes closer — median earnings $43,499 against a $23,686 total, vs $42,356 at Clark College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clark College | Yakima Valley College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,465 | $11,843 |
| Total net cost | $22,930 | $23,686 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,356 | $43,499 |
| Median debt | $10,881 | $13,966 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$143,010 | -$120,906 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clark College or Yakima Valley College?
Clark College, at $11,465 a year after aid versus $11,843 — a gap of $378 a year, or $756 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 Yakima Valley College graduates earn more?
Yakima Valley College graduates report a median $43,499 ten years after entry, $1,143 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 Yakima Valley College?
Clark College: its completers carry a median $10,881 in federal loans versus $13,966 at Yakima Valley College, a difference of $3,085. 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 29% at Yakima Valley 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.