Seattle Central College
Seattle Central College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Seattle Central College at a Glance
Seattle Central College is a public college in Seattle, Washington, United States. With North Seattle College and South Seattle College, it is one of the three colleges that comprise the Seattle Colleges District. The college has a substantial international student population served by the International Education Programs division as well as many immigrant and refugee students taking ESL courses through the Basic and Transitional Studies division. Seattle Central College also encompasses the Woo…
1965
61 years old
$5M
$5,127,981
16,814
15 acres
Is Seattle Central College Worth It?
At a value score of 39/100, Seattle Central College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $43,307 — 19% below average — while paying $8,819/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 31% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 3 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 Seattle Central College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Seattle Central College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #107 of 232 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 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #2 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #3 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #4 | College of the Mainland | 100 | $1,342 | $39,639 |
| #5 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #6 | West Virginia University at Parkersburg | 97 | $1,807 | $35,171 |
| #107 | Seattle Central College | 39 | $8,819 | $43,307 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Seattle Central College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 27 in WA.
Best Programs at Seattle Central College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Seattle Central 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 $8,819/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
- Seattle, WA
- Student Body
- 3,953 students
- Graduation Rate
- 31%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $8,819
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,307
- Median Student Debt
- $12,000