Degree Dividend
Sourced from federal dataEvery figure datedNo rankings for sale

Shoreline College vs Cascadia College: which has better ROI?

Public, Shoreline WA · vs · Public, Bothell WA

The verdict

Cascadia College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $24,562 in 4.3 years versus 4.7 years at Shoreline College, on median earnings of $54,133 vs $52,009 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

Share
Head to head
MeasureShoreline CollegeCascadia College
Net price / yr$8,585$12,281
Total net cost$17,170$24,562
Median earnings, 10 yrs$52,009$54,133
Median debt$12,021$6,368
Payback4.7 yrs4.3 yrs
20-year net return$55,810$90,898

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

Which is cheaper, Shoreline College or Cascadia College?

Shoreline College, at $8,585 a year after aid versus $12,281 — a gap of $3,696 a year, or $7,392 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.

Do Shoreline College or Cascadia College graduates earn more?

Cascadia College graduates report a median $54,133 ten years after entry, $2,124 more than the $52,009 at Shoreline 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 leaves students with less debt, Shoreline College or Cascadia College?

Cascadia College: its completers carry a median $6,368 in federal loans versus $12,021 at Shoreline College, a difference of $5,653. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.

Which graduates more of its students?

32% of students finish at Cascadia College, against 29% at Shoreline 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.

Shoreline College vs Cascadia College: frequently asked questions

Is Shoreline College or Cascadia College a better value?
Cascadia College. It clears its $24,562 net cost in about 4.3 years versus 4.7 years at Shoreline College, on median earnings of $54,133 vs $52,009 ten years out.
Which is cheaper, Shoreline College or Cascadia College?
Shoreline College: $8,585/yr net price after aid versus $12,281/yr at Cascadia College — a difference of $3,696 a year, or about $7,392 over four years.
Do Shoreline College or Cascadia College graduates earn more?
Cascadia College graduates earn a median $54,133 ten years after entry, versus $52,009 at Shoreline College — a $2,124 gap. This blends every major, so a specific field can flip it.