Renton Technical College
Renton Technical College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Renton Technical College at a Glance
Renton Technical College is a public community college in Renton, Washington. The college offers bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificates of completion in professional-technical fields. As of June 2023, the college had over 3,200 students, 81 full-time faculty members, 238 part-time faculty members, and 221 other staff member.
1941
85 years old
3,200
Identity
Is Renton Technical College Worth It?
Renton Technical College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $8,296/year, it's priced 59% below average, while graduates go on to earn $49,782 — near the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 50% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 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 $7,920 is manageable at just 16% of first-year post-graduation earnings.
Bottom line: Renton Technical College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Renton Technical College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #12 of 151 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 | New College of Florida | 100 | $7,195 | $48,082 |
| #6 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #12 | Renton Technical College | 76 | $8,296 | $49,782 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Renton Technical College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 16 in WA.
Best Programs at Renton Technical College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Renton 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 $8,296/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
- Renton, WA
- Student Body
- 1,783 students
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $8,296
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $49,782
- Median Student Debt
- $7,920