Degree Dividend
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Everett Community College vs Centralia College: which has better ROI?

Public, Everett WA · vs · Public, Centralia WA

The verdict

Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Everett Community College comes closer — median earnings $45,434 against a $21,368 total, vs $43,140 at Centralia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Head to head
MeasureEverett Community CollegeCentralia College
Net price / yr$10,684$9,862
Total net cost$21,368$19,724
Median earnings, 10 yrs$45,434$43,140
Median debt$10,417
Payback
20-year net return-$79,888-$124,124

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

Which is cheaper, Everett Community College or Centralia College?

Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $10,684 — a gap of $822 a year, or $1,644 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Everett Community College or Centralia College graduates earn more?

Everett Community College graduates report a median $45,434 ten years after entry, $2,294 more than the $43,140 at Centralia 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?

42% of students finish at Centralia College, against 37% at Everett 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.

Everett Community College vs Centralia College: frequently asked questions

Is Everett Community College or Centralia College a better value?
Everett Community 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, Everett Community College or Centralia College?
Centralia College: $9,862/yr net price after aid versus $10,684/yr at Everett Community College — a difference of $822 a year, or about $1,644 over four years.
Do Everett Community College or Centralia College graduates earn more?
Everett Community College graduates earn a median $45,434 ten years after entry, versus $43,140 at Centralia College — a $2,294 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.