Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Clover Park Technical College vs Centralia College: which has better ROI?

Public, Lakewood WA · vs · Public, Centralia WA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Centralia College comes closer — median earnings $43,140 against a $19,724 total, vs $41,787 at Clover Park Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureClover Park Technical CollegeCentralia College
Net price / yr$9,864$9,862
Total net cost$39,456$19,724
Median earnings, 10 yrs$41,787$43,140
Median debt$12,112
Payback
20-year net return-$170,916-$124,124

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

Which is cheaper, Clover Park Technical College or Centralia College?

Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $9,864 — a gap of $2 a year, or $19,732 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Clover Park Technical College or Centralia College graduates earn more?

Centralia College graduates report a median $43,140 ten years after entry, $1,353 more than the $41,787 at Clover Park Technical 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?

43% of students finish at Clover Park Technical College, against 42% at Centralia 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.

Clover Park Technical College vs Centralia College: frequently asked questions

Is Clover Park Technical College or Centralia College a better value?
Centralia 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, Clover Park Technical College or Centralia College?
Centralia College: $9,862/yr net price after aid versus $9,864/yr at Clover Park Technical College — a difference of $2 a year, or about $19,732 over four years.
Do Clover Park Technical College or Centralia College graduates earn more?
Centralia College graduates earn a median $43,140 ten years after entry, versus $41,787 at Clover Park Technical College — a $1,353 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.