Skagit Valley College
Skagit Valley College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Skagit Valley College at a Glance
Skagit Valley College (SVC) is a public community college in Mount Vernon, Washington. It serves students in Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties in northwest Washington state. Established in 1926, SVC is as the second-oldest continuously operating community college in the state of Washington. SVC grants academic transfer pathways, professional/technical degrees, and certificates. The academic transfer degree and several professional/technical degrees can be completed online. SVC also offers Ba…
1926
100 years old
4,418
Identity
Is Skagit Valley College Worth It?
Skagit Valley College delivers solid financial returns for its graduates. At $6,064/year, it's priced 70% below average, while graduates go on to earn $43,505 — near the national average.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 35% 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.
How Skagit Valley College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #23 of 196 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 |
| #23 | Skagit Valley College | 62 | $6,064 | $43,505 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Skagit Valley College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 25 in WA.
Best Programs at Skagit Valley College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Skagit Valley 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 $6,064/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
- Mount Vernon, WA
- Student Body
- 2,477 students
- Graduation Rate
- 35%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,064
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $43,505
- Median Student Debt
- $13,805