North Seattle College vs Centralia College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but North Seattle College comes closer — median earnings $47,728 against a $42,960 total, vs $43,140 at Centralia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | North Seattle College | Centralia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $10,740 | $9,862 |
| Total net cost | $42,960 | $19,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,728 | $43,140 |
| Median debt | $15,458 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$55,600 | -$124,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, North Seattle College or Centralia College?
Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $10,740 — a gap of $878 a year, or $23,236 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do North Seattle College or Centralia College graduates earn more?
North Seattle College graduates report a median $47,728 ten years after entry, $4,588 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 33% at North 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.