Tacoma Community College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Tacoma, Washington. It enrolls 4,668 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.
Good
68/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes36
Value81
Affordability49
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Tacoma Community College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Tacoma 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 $8,376 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$8,376
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
26%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
12%
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)
$5,507
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,646
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,310
Books & Supplies
$528
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,746
Total Cost of Attendance
$16,766
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
$7,112
$30,001 – $48,000
$7,691
$48,001 – $75,000
$8,108
$75,001 – $110,000
$12,371
Over $110,000
$16,093
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.
$2,07710%percentile
$3,65025%percentile
$13,000Medianpercentile
$15,14475%percentile
$23,11890%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 $8,237
↓ $4,763
No Pell $6,500
↓ $6,500
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $7,500
Independent students $9,500
↓ $3,500
Female students $8,000
↓ $5,000
Male students $7,000
↓ $6,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,013, less than completers ($13,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
21% of full-time students who enrolled at Tacoma Community College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
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 Tacoma Community College earn a median of $47,168 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,168
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
$37,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,000
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,000
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $10,900, about 23% 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 ↑
25.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 72% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Tacoma Community College is home to 4,668 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 45% are first-generation college students, 42% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
4,668
Part-Time
42%
First-Generation
45%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 29.1%1,356
Hispanic 19.4%904
Other 14.1%659
Black 10.4%483
Asian 8.8%412
International 4.4%203
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Tacoma Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityTacoma, Washington
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
38%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Tacoma Community College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
40 distinct programs across
12 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 Tacoma Community College is 16:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$8,795
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$5.7M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$85,403
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
133 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
133
100%
$85,403
Pros & Cons of Tacoma Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Tacoma 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
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Tacoma 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 Tacoma Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Tacoma Community College.
How much does Tacoma Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Tacoma Community College is $8,376 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Tacoma Community College worth it?
Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,168 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $8,376 per year. That's roughly 5.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Tacoma Community College known for?
Tacoma Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Medical Assisting, Nursing. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Tacoma Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Tacoma Community College are $47,168, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Tacoma Community College accredited?
Yes. Tacoma Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Tacoma Community College?
Tacoma Community College enrolls 4,668 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Tacoma Community College?
Tacoma Community College graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Tacoma Community College a public or private college?
Tacoma Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Tacoma Community College located?
Tacoma Community College is located in Tacoma, Washington.
What programs does Tacoma Community College offer?
Tacoma Community College offers 40 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Medical Assisting, Nursing.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Tacoma Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Tacoma Community College is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Washington
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