South Puget Sound Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Olympia, Washington. It enrolls 3,075 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
76/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes65
Value76
Affordability45
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for South Puget Sound Community College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending South Puget Sound Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,132 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,132
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
22%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
5%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,252
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,813
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,310
Books & Supplies
$900
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,746
Total Cost of Attendance
$17,888
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$7,757
$30,001 – $48,000
$8,765
$48,001 – $75,000
$9,655
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,781
Over $110,000
$16,766
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,56010%percentile
$3,12525%percentile
$11,000Medianpercentile
$10,89375%percentile
$17,96590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,334
↓ $3,666
No Pell $6,167
↓ $4,833
Dependent students $5,092
↓ $5,908
Independent students $7,125
↓ $3,875
Female students $6,334
↓ $4,666
Male students $6,334
↓ $4,666
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,568, less than completers ($11,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
30% of full-time students who enrolled at South Puget Sound Community College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
30%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered South Puget Sound Community College earn a median of $45,039 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$45,039
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$31,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$39,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,800, about 22% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
13.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Moderate. Only 68% of graduates are paying down principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
South Puget Sound Community College is home to 3,075 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 43% are first-generation college students, 42% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,075
Part-Time
42%
First-Generation
43%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 44.6%1,371
Hispanic 16.7%513
Other 11.7%360
Asian 6.9%211
Black 5.0%155
International 1.8%55
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at South Puget Sound Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityOlympia, Washington
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
South Puget Sound Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Puget Sound Community College is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$14,797
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$12M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$74,193
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
95 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
95
100%
$74,193
Pros & Cons of South Puget Sound Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how South Puget Sound Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, South Puget Sound Community College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about South Puget Sound Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about South Puget Sound Community College.
How much does South Puget Sound Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at South Puget Sound Community College is $9,132 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is South Puget Sound Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $45,039 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,132 per year. That's roughly 4.9x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is South Puget Sound Community College known for?
South Puget Sound Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do South Puget Sound Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering South Puget Sound Community College are $45,039, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is South Puget Sound Community College accredited?
Yes. South Puget Sound Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend South Puget Sound Community College?
South Puget Sound Community College enrolls 3,075 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at South Puget Sound Community College?
South Puget Sound Community College graduates 30% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is South Puget Sound Community College a public or private college?
South Puget Sound Community College is a Public institution.
Where is South Puget Sound Community College located?
South Puget Sound Community College is located in Olympia, Washington.
What programs does South Puget Sound Community College offer?
South Puget Sound Community College offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at South Puget Sound Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at South Puget Sound Community College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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