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Community-college tuition in Washington

Published in-state tuition for community colleges in Washington, ranked highest to lowest. Use this as a quick reference for comparing the published price tag across institutions; for a full picture of what you'll actually pay, see each college's profile and our cost-and-aid guide for Washington.

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

How to read this table

The published rate is what the institution charges before financial aid is applied. Washington community colleges are funded through a combination of state appropriations, local tax support (in many states), and student tuition; the public colleges on this list are required to publish their tuition schedules and report them annually to the U.S. Department of Education. Private nonprofit and private for-profit two-year colleges in Washington report similarly but may not benefit from state subsidy, which is why their tuition rates can be substantially higher.

Tuition alone is the smallest component of a community-college cost decision for most students. The full annual cost of attendance — including required fees, books, supplies, transportation, and (when applicable) room and board — is consistently several times the tuition figure shown here. Federal Pell Grants, state grant programs in Washington, and institutional aid typically reduce the out-of-pocket cost dramatically, often to zero for the lowest-income students. Always file the FAFSA before you decide which community college is most affordable for you personally; the answer based on real cost is frequently different from the answer based on sticker price.

If you are not a Washington resident, expect a meaningfully higher tuition rate at most public community colleges in the state. Out-of-state tuition is reported on each college's full profile.