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
Pierce College District serves 10,153 students (55% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 29:1 is higher than the state community college average of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 56% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is equal to the state average of 56%.
Quick Stats (2025)
Enrollment: 10,153 students
In-state tuition: $3,777
Out-state tuition: $8,967
Student:teacher ratio: 29:1
Minority enrollment: 56%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
The student population of Pierce College District has grown by 63% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 29:1 has increased from 24:1 over five years.
The Pierce College District diversity score of 0.74 is less than the state average of 0.75. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
10,153 students
5,207 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
29:1
15:1
# Full-Time Students
5,591 students
2,028 students
# Part-Time Students
4,562 students
3,179 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
101 students
494 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
5,591 students
2,028 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
4,562 students
3,179 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
60 students
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
1%
% Asian
8%
10%
% Hispanic
18%
17%
% Black
10%
7%
% White
44%
44%
% Hawaiian
2%
1%
% Two or more races
12%
8%
% Non Resident races
2%
3%
% Unknown races
3%
9%
Diversity Score
0.74
0.75
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
24%
30%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
0.3818%
0.3584%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$37,900
$36,400
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The public in-state tuition of $3,777 is less than the state average of $4,105. The in-state tuition has declined by 9% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $8,967 is more than the state average of $7,359. The out-state tuition has grown by 93% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$3,777
$4,105
Out-State Tuition Fees
$8,967
$7,359
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
39%
58%
Median Debt for Graduates
$13,296
$11,794
Median Debt for Dropouts
$7,000
$6,192
Acceptance Rate
n/a
99%
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
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.
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Quick Stats (2025)
Enrollment: 10,153 students
In-state tuition: $3,777
Out-state tuition: $8,967
Student:teacher ratio: 29:1
Minority enrollment: 56%
Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
For Pierce County, WA public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $4,513 per year for in-state students and $9,089 for out-of-state students. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.
