South Seattle College vs Big Bend Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but South Seattle College comes closer — median earnings $44,486 against a $24,016 total, vs $43,814 at Big Bend Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | South Seattle College | Big Bend Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,004 | $12,210 |
| Total net cost | $24,016 | $24,420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,486 | $43,814 |
| Median debt | — | $9,166 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$101,496 | -$115,340 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, South Seattle College or Big Bend Community College?
South Seattle College, at $6,004 a year after aid versus $12,210 — a gap of $6,206 a year, or $404 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do South Seattle College or Big Bend Community College graduates earn more?
South Seattle College graduates report a median $44,486 ten years after entry, $672 more than the $43,814 at Big Bend Community 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 Big Bend Community College, against 31% at South 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.