Whatcom Community College vs Centralia College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Whatcom Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,092 against a $23,590 total, vs $43,140 at Centralia College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Whatcom Community College | Centralia College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,795 | $9,862 |
| Total net cost | $23,590 | $19,724 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,092 | $43,140 |
| Median debt | $10,643 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$108,950 | -$124,124 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Whatcom Community College or Centralia College?
Centralia College, at $9,862 a year after aid versus $11,795 — a gap of $1,933 a year, or $3,866 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Whatcom Community College or Centralia College graduates earn more?
Whatcom Community College graduates report a median $44,092 ten years after entry, $952 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 36% at Whatcom 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.