The Evergreen State College vs Centralia College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Centralia College comes closer — median earnings $43,140 against a $19,724 total, vs $45,320 at The Evergreen State College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | The Evergreen State College | Centralia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,319 | $9,862 |
| Total net cost | $97,276 | $19,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $45,320 | $43,140 |
| Median debt | $20,500 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$158,076 | -$124,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, The Evergreen State College or Centralia College?
Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $24,319 — a gap of $14,457 a year, or $77,552 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do The Evergreen State College or Centralia College graduates earn more?
The Evergreen State College graduates report a median $45,320 ten years after entry, $2,180 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 41% at The Evergreen State 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.