Pierce College District
- Pierce College Fort Steilacoom and Pierce College Puyallup are comprehensive, accredited, public two-year colleges. Our colleges offer outstanding programs for career development and transfer to four-year colleges, in beautiful settings, with excellent facilities and instructors.
School Highlights
Quick Stats (2023)
- Enrollment: 8,329 students
- In-state tuition: $3,777
- Out-state tuition: $8,967
- Student:teacher ratio: 24:1
- Minority enrollment: 52%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
Pierce College District ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Washington for:
School Overview

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School Notes
- Pierce College District 11 is two community colleges and an extended learning program in Pierce County, Washington state. Pierce is one of the largest educational providers in the state, and is nationally ranked in degrees conferred. Our programs include transfer courses parallel to the first two years of university and four-year college work, vocational degree and certificate programs for training or retraining in a variety of job fields, developmental, basic skills and high school completion courses, personal and professional development through continuing education courses and traditional and non-traditional learning opportunities. Pierce College's rise to prominence in Washington's higher education system began humbly. It opened in 1967 as Clover Park Community College, and its administrative offices and library were housed in an abandoned grocery store. A local school district operated the college, and instructors held classes throughout Pierce County at area high schools, military bases and hospitals. In its first year of operation, the college became part of the statewide community college system. With support of the state legislature, which passed the Community College Act of 1967, a permanent campus was chosen. The site, 140 acres in the historic Fort Steilacoom area of Lakewood, led to a new name: Fort Steilacoom Community College. With a strong reputation for solid, affordable educational programs, the college continued to grow rapidly. A major addition and remodeling of the Fort Steilacoom campus were complete in 1987. At the same time, an 85-acre site in Puyallup was purchased to become the permanent home of the Puyallup campus. Officials broke ground for the first building in 1989 and at the start of fall quarter 1990 held the facility's grand opening. A second building was opened in Puyallup in the Fall of 1996. Pierce College offers a variety of associate degrees for university transfer, Associate in Technology degrees for professional/technical training in a wide range of career fields, and professional/technical certificates for entry-level employment preparation. Pierce College is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. It is part of the state system of public community and technical colleges.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Pierce College District cost?
Pierce College District's tuition is approximately $3,777 for In-State students and $8,967 for Out-State students.
What schools are Pierce College District often compared to?
Pierce College Districtis often viewed alongside schools like Tacoma Community College by visitors of our site.
What is Pierce College District's ranking?
Pierce College District ranks among the top 20% of community college in Washington for: Largest student body.
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