Seattle Central College vs Carrington College-Spokane: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Seattle Central College comes closer — median earnings $43,307 against a $17,638 total, vs $36,625 at Carrington College-Spokane. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Seattle Central College | Carrington College-Spokane |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,819 | $42,335 |
| Total net cost | $17,638 | $169,340 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $43,307 | $36,625 |
| Median debt | $12,000 | $9,295 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$118,698 | -$404,040 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Seattle Central College or Carrington College-Spokane?
Seattle Central College, at $8,819 a year after aid versus $42,335 — a gap of $33,516 a year, or $151,702 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Seattle Central College or Carrington College-Spokane graduates earn more?
Seattle Central College graduates report a median $43,307 ten years after entry, $6,682 more than the $36,625 at Carrington College-Spokane. 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 leaves students with less debt, Seattle Central College or Carrington College-Spokane?
Carrington College-Spokane: its completers carry a median $9,295 in federal loans versus $12,000 at Seattle Central College, a difference of $2,705. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Carrington College-Spokane, against 32% at Seattle Central 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.