Centralia College
Centralia College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Centralia College at a Glance
Centralia College is a public community college in Centralia, Washington. Although it primarily offers certificates and Associate degrees, it also offers a few Bachelor's degrees. Founded in 1925, Centralia is the oldest continuously operating community college in the state of Washington. The college sits on 29 acres (120,000 m2) in the middle of the town of Centralia. There is a branch education center, Centralia College East, in the town of Morton and the college offers a range of online and c…
1925
101 years old
$8M
$7.8 million
4,840
Identity
Is Centralia College Worth It?
Centralia College offers moderate value at $9,862/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $43,140, which is 20% below average — meaning the financial payoff takes longer than typical. 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 44% 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.
How Centralia College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #35 of 129 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 | Chipola College | 100 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| #2 | North Florida College | 100 | $804 | $33,929 |
| #3 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #4 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #5 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #6 | New College of Florida | 100 | $7,195 | $48,082 |
| #35 | Centralia College | 48 | $9,862 | $43,140 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Centralia College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 15 in WA.
Best Programs at Centralia College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Centralia 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 $9,862/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
- Centralia, WA
- Student Body
- 1,552 students
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,862
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,140