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Cheapest community colleges in Washington

Community colleges in Washington ranked by published in-state tuition, lowest first. Published tuition is the sticker price; the price you actually pay is typically much lower after federal Pell grants and state aid. Use this list as a starting point, then file the FAFSA to see your real cost.

  1. Olympic CollegeBremerton, WA$4,197
  2. Northwest Indian CollegeBellingham, WA$4,365
  3. Bellevue CollegeBellevue, WA$4,436
  4. Lower Columbia CollegeLongview, WA$4,626
  5. Green River CollegeAuburn, WA$4,711
  6. Highline CollegeDes Moines, WA$4,772
  7. Edmonds CollegeLynnwood, WA$4,810
  8. Everett Community CollegeEverett, WA$5,032
  9. Big Bend Community CollegeMoses Lake, WA$5,059
  10. Shoreline Community CollegeShoreline, WA$5,115
  11. Whatcom Community CollegeBellingham, WA$5,115
  12. Cascadia CollegeBothell, WA$5,157
  13. Seattle Central CollegeSeattle, WA$5,184
  14. Clark CollegeVancouver, WA$5,233
  15. South Puget Sound Community CollegeOlympia, WA$5,252
  16. Centralia CollegeCentralia, WA$5,266
  17. Wenatchee Valley CollegeWenatchee, WA$5,267
  18. Walla Walla Community CollegeWalla Walla, WA$5,279
  19. Yakima Valley CollegeYakima, WA$5,312
  20. Skagit Valley CollegeMount Vernon, WA$5,400
  21. Pierce College DistrictLakewood, WA$5,418
  22. Spokane Community CollegeSpokane, WA$5,461
  23. Spokane Falls Community CollegeSpokane, WA$5,461
  24. Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma, WA$5,507
  25. Grays Harbor CollegeAberdeen, WA$5,593
  26. Columbia Basin CollegePasco, WA$6,555
  27. Pacific Northwest Christian CollegeKennewick, WA$11,350
  28. Northwest School of Wooden Boat BuildingPort Hadlock, WA$20,025

Reading the list

The figures above are the published in-state tuition rates each Washington community college reports to the U.S. Department of Education. These are the rates posted to the institution's tuition schedule before any aid is applied. For most Washington community-college students, federal Pell grants alone cover a substantial share of tuition, and state aid programs in Washington often cover the remainder for residents who qualify. Out-of-state tuition is typically higher; check the individual college profile for both rates.

Tuition alone is not the right comparison for a complete cost picture. The College Scorecard also reports total annual cost of attendance — tuition plus required fees, books, room and board (if applicable), and other expenses — which is the more meaningful number when you are budgeting for a year of school. Each college's full profile lists cost of attendance alongside tuition. For students who can live at home and avoid room-and-board costs, the gap between tuition and cost of attendance shrinks substantially.

If your goal is the lowest possible total cost, the cheapest tuition isn't always the right pick. A slightly more expensive program with a higher transfer rate or stronger articulation agreement with a four-year university may produce a lower total degree cost overall, because lost credit on transfer can erase the savings of a low community-college tuition.