Peninsula College
Peninsula College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Peninsula College at a Glance
Peninsula College is a public community college in Port Angeles, Washington, on the Olympic Peninsula. It is part of the Washington Community and Technical Colleges system and offers Bachelor of Applied Science in Management and Behavioral Healthcare degrees, transfer Associate degree programs, professional-technical degrees and certificates, community education courses, and pre-college courses. It also has distance education and online learning options.
Is Peninsula College Worth It?
At a value score of 39/100, Peninsula College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $37,078 — 31% below average — while paying $9,246/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1 year — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 39% 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.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Peninsula College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Peninsula College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #34 of 88 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 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #4 | Northern Marianas College | 100 | $2,789 | $27,836 |
| #5 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | 97 | $1,807 | $35,171 |
| #6 | Haskell Indian Nations University | 90 | $3,134 | $37,043 |
| #34 | Peninsula College | 39 | $9,246 | $37,078 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Peninsula College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 7 in WA.
Best Programs at Peninsula College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Peninsula 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 $9,246/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
- Port Angeles, WA
- Student Body
- 1,263 students
- Graduation Rate
- 39%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $9,246
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $37,078
- Median Student Debt
- $15,786