Clover Park Technical College
Clover Park Technical College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Clover Park Technical College at a Glance
Clover Park Technical College (CPTC) is a public community college with its main campus in Lakewood, Washington, United States. It also has two other campuses, an aviation-focused South Hill Campus near Puyallup adjacent to Thun Field and the Eastside Training Center in Tacoma.
1941
85 years old
Is Clover Park Technical College Worth It?
Clover Park Technical College offers moderate value at $9,864/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $41,787, which is 22% 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 42% 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 Clover Park Technical College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #55 of 192 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 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #3 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #4 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #5 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #6 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #55 | Clover Park Technical College | 44 | $9,864 | $41,787 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Clover Park Technical College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 23 in WA.
Best Programs at Clover Park Technical College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Clover Park Technical 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 $9,864/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
- Lakewood, WA
- Student Body
- 2,636 students
- Graduation Rate
- 42%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,864
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $41,787
- Median Student Debt
- $12,112