Tacoma Community College vs Pacific Lutheran University: which has better ROI?
Pacific Lutheran University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $78,356 in 4.2 years versus not at all at Tacoma Community College, on median earnings of $66,990 vs $47,168 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tacoma Community College | Pacific Lutheran University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,376 | $19,589 |
| Total net cost | $16,752 | $78,356 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,168 | $66,990 |
| Median debt | $13,000 | $22,578 |
| Payback | — | 4.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | -$40,592 | $294,244 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Tacoma Community College or Pacific Lutheran University?
Tacoma Community College, at $8,376 a year after aid versus $19,589 — a gap of $11,213 a year, or $61,604 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Tacoma Community College or Pacific Lutheran University graduates earn more?
Pacific Lutheran University graduates report a median $66,990 ten years after entry, $19,822 more than the $47,168 at Tacoma 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 leaves students with less debt, Tacoma Community College or Pacific Lutheran University?
Tacoma Community College: its completers carry a median $13,000 in federal loans versus $22,578 at Pacific Lutheran University, a difference of $9,578. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
69% of students finish at Pacific Lutheran University, against 32% at Tacoma Community 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.