Clover Park Technical College vs South Seattle College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Seattle College comes closer — median earnings $44,486 against a $24,016 total, vs $41,787 at Clover Park Technical College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Clover Park Technical College | South Seattle College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $9,864 | $6,004 |
| Total net cost | $39,456 | $24,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $41,787 | $44,486 |
| Median debt | $12,112 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$170,916 | -$101,496 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Clover Park Technical College or South Seattle College?
South Seattle College, at $6,004 a year after aid versus $9,864 — a gap of $3,860 a year, or $15,440 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 South Seattle College graduates earn more?
South Seattle College graduates report a median $44,486 ten years after entry, $2,699 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 31% at South Seattle 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.