South Seattle College
South Seattle College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
South Seattle College at a Glance
South Seattle College is a public community college in the Seattle neighborhoods of West Seattle and Georgetown. Founded in 1970, it is one of three colleges which make up the Seattle Colleges District. The Seattle Community Colleges District Board of Trustees voted unanimously in March 2014 to change the name of the District to Seattle Colleges and to change the names of the colleges to Seattle Central College, North Seattle College, and South Seattle College. It is home to the South Seattle Co…
1970
56 years old
15,000
Is South Seattle College Worth It?
South Seattle College offers moderate value at $6,004/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $44,486, which is 17% 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 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 29% 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 South Seattle College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #28 of 136 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 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #4 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #5 | Alpena Community College | 100 | $3,320 | $36,442 |
| #6 | New College of Florida | 100 | $7,195 | $48,082 |
| #28 | South Seattle College | 54 | $6,004 | $44,486 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of South Seattle College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 15 in WA.
Best Programs at South Seattle College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for South Seattle 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 $6,004/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
- 1,616 students
- Graduation Rate
- 29%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $6,004
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $44,486