Olympic College vs Centralia College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Olympic College comes closer — median earnings $43,169 against a $14,344 total, vs $43,140 at Centralia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Olympic College | Centralia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,172 | $9,862 |
| Total net cost | $14,344 | $19,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,169 | $43,140 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$118,164 | -$124,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Olympic College or Centralia College?
Olympic College, at $7,172 a year after aid versus $9,862 — a gap of $2,690 a year, or $5,380 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Olympic College or Centralia College graduates earn more?
Olympic College graduates report a median $43,169 ten years after entry, $29 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 31% at Olympic 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.