Head-to-head · 2026
South Puget Sound Community College vs University of Washington-Tacoma Campus
Compare average net price ($9,132 at South Puget Sound Community College; $10,163 at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus), ROI score (12.33 vs 19.30), school-wide ten-year median earnings ($45,039 vs $78,466), and admissions context (Open / not reported at South Puget Sound Community College; 82.5% at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus) using federal College Scorecard data. The table keeps affordability, outcomes, access and program fit separate rather than declaring one universal winner.
Face to face
Metric-by-metric comparison
13 metrics, side by side. Color marks a useful directional signal; admissions, SAT, tuition eligibility, ownership and enrollment stay neutral.
| Metric | South Puget Sound Community College | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus |
|---|---|---|
| ROI score (school-wide) | 12.33 | 19.30 ✓ |
| Avg net price | $9,132 ✓ | $10,163 |
| 4-year avg net price | $36,528 ✓ | $40,652 |
| In-state tuition | $5,252 | $13,168 |
| Out-of-state tuition | $5,813 | $43,404 |
| School-wide earnings (10y) | $45,039 | $78,466 ✓ |
| Acceptance rate | Open / not reported | 82.5% |
| Graduation rate | 43.7% | 63.2% ✓ |
| Retention rate | — | 80% |
| Median debt | $11,000 ✓ | $14,615 |
| Enrollment | 3,075 | 4,185 |
| Ownership | Public | Public |
| Avg SAT | — | — |
Cost by family income
Reported net price by income band
Federal averages for students receiving Title IV aid. These are context, not a substitute for either school's financial-aid offer.
| Income band | South Puget Sound Community College | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Family income $0–30k | $7,757 | $4,458 ✓ |
| Family income $30–48k | $8,765 | $6,135 ✓ |
| Family income $48–75k | $9,655 | $6,748 ✓ |
| Family income $75–110k | $11,781 | $11,449 ✓ |
| Family income $110k+ | $16,766 ✓ | $22,183 |
Program fit
Shared fields with reported awards
Award share is the share of reported credentials in a field, not the share of currently enrolled students.
| Shared field | South Puget Sound Community College | University of Washington-Tacoma Campus |
|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 51.4% | 1.9% |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 8.3% | 2.4% |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 3.5% | 6.9% |
| Biology, General | 1.8% | 5.4% |
| Accounting and Related Services | 2% | 4.9% |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 2.3% | 4.3% |
| Computer Science | 0.3% | 0.2% |
Decision readout
What the differences mean
South Puget Sound Community College reports the lower average net price by $1,031 per year. Holding today's averages constant, that is a $4,124 difference over four years ($36,528 vs $40,652).
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus reports $33,427 higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry ($78,466 vs $45,039). This is not earnings for a specific major.
Retention data is incomplete for at least one school. Compare the available graduation, debt, price and admissions context without treating a missing field as an advantage.
7 of the strongest shared fields with positive award-share data are listed below. Award share describes reported credentials in a field, not the percentage of currently enrolled students.
Keep comparing
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Frequently asked
South Puget Sound Community College vs University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, answered
3 of the most common questions, with real numbers from federal data.
Which school costs less after aid?
South Puget Sound Community College is cheaper — average net price $9,132 per year vs $10,163 at University of Washington-Tacoma Campus. The annual difference of $1,031 adds up to about $4,124 over four years.
Which school reports higher earnings?
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus reports higher school-wide median earnings ten years after entry: $78,466 vs $45,039 at South Puget Sound Community College. The gap in the federal data is $33,427. This is not major-specific earnings.
Is there an overall winner?
No single metric makes either school the universal winner. Compare your actual aid offers, residency tuition, intended major, graduation and retention rates, debt, location and campus fit. EduGradify keeps these trade-offs separate instead of combining admissions selectivity and test scores into a final verdict.