Cascadia College
Cascadia College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Cascadia College at a Glance
Cascadia College is a public community college in Bothell, Washington, on a shared campus with the University of Washington Bothell. Established in 2000, Cascadia was built to serve the cities of Bothell, Woodinville, Kirkland, Kenmore, Duvall, Carnation, Sammamish, Redmond and other smaller communities within the greater Seattle area.
2000
26 years old
2,300
128 acres
Identity
Is Cascadia College Worth It?
Cascadia College offers moderate value at $12,281/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $54,133, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.9 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 37% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Median student debt of $6,368 is manageable at just 12% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
How Cascadia College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #29 of 78 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | New College of Florida | 100 | $7,195 | $48,082 |
| #2 | University of New Hampshire at Manchester | 93 | $9,992 | $66,479 |
| #3 | University of Minnesota-Morris | 90 | $8,837 | $50,919 |
| #4 | Grays Harbor College | 75 | $4,783 | $40,865 |
| #5 | University of Maine at Fort Kent | 68 | $7,482 | $51,077 |
| #6 | University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma | 64 | $6,624 | $41,913 |
| #29 | Cascadia College | 41 | $12,281 | $54,133 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Cascadia College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in WA.
Best Programs at Cascadia College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Cascadia College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $12,281/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in WA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bothell, WA
- Student Body
- 1,032 students
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $12,281
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $54,133
- Median Student Debt
- $6,368