Public · 4-year

Clover Park Technical College

Lakewood, Washington

DR Rating

DegreeReturn Rating — Poor value

A 0–100 composite of ROI, graduate earnings, net price, debt and graduation rate. How it’s scored.

Poor return

$-39,960 over 10 years

Estimated for a typical student paying the average net price over 4 years.

On these figures the cost and debt outweigh the earnings premium.

112.2 yrs

Break-even

-91%

10-year ROI

$45,391

Median earnings as of 2024

59% of Clover Park Technical College students earn more than a typical U.S. high-school graduate (about $28,000/yr) ten years after starting — measured from IRS tax records, not surveys.

The numbers behind the verdict

$9,864

Average net price / yr as of 2024

$45,391

Median earnings (5 yr) as of 2024

$42,066

Median earnings (1 yr) as of 2024

$12,112

Median debt at graduation as of 2024

43%

Graduation rate as of 2024

59%

Earn more than a HS grad as of 2024

54%

Repaying their loans (3 yr) as of 2024

—

Retention rate as of 2024

Lifetime ROI: the long view

Cumulative net gain over a high-school-only earner at different career lengths, with tuition and debt interest already subtracted. Built on IRS-verified federal earnings — not self-reported surveys.

$-39,960

After 10 years

$-36,050

After 20 years

$-32,140

After 30 years

$-28,230

After 40 years

Conservative: holds year-5 earnings flat (no raises). Adjust the assumptions, or see the highest 20-year ROI colleges.

Equity & access

Who the college serves and whether the payoff reaches everyone — earnings ten years after starting (IRS-linked), with access measures from federal enrollment data.

By gender

Women

$37,665

Men

$50,159

25% gap between the two groups

By family-income background

From lower-income families

$38,685

From higher-income families

$53,785

28% gap between the two groups

By student status (FAFSA)

Dependent students

$42,771

Independent students

$41,442

3% gap between the two groups

46%

First-generation students

Take federal student loans

88%

Born in the U.S.

Who studies here

White 32%Hispanic 17%Asian 7%Black 14%Other 30%

Undergraduate enrollment by race/ethnicity. Federal data does not report earnings by race.

Net price by family income

What students actually pay after grants and scholarships, by household income as of 2024.

Family income	Average net price / yr
Family income $0–$30k	$8,515
$30k–$48k	$8,235
$48k–$75k	$11,534
$75k–$110k	$13,166
$110k+	$16,160

How Clover Park Technical College compares

This college against the Washington and national averages — higher earnings and lower cost/debt are better.

Graduate earnings over time

Median earnings of Clover Park Technical College students 10 years after entering, by cohort year as of 2024.

Best-paying majors at Clover Park Technical College

Fields of study ranked by their own ROI — earnings five years after graduating against the cost and debt. Click a major for the deep dive.

Major	Credential	Earnings (5 yr)	Median debt	10-yr ROI	Verdict
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	Certificate	$65,084	—	+1,936%	Strong return
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management	Certificate	$64,985	—	+1,926%	Strong return
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants	Certificate	$62,140	$10,584	+1,149%	Strong return
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, General	Certificate	$50,821	—	+490%	Strong return
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	Certificate	$45,981	$12,277	-32%	Poor return
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services	Certificate	$45,391	—	-60%	Poor return
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions	Certificate	$44,831	—	-117%	Poor return
Culinary Arts and Related Services	Certificate	$39,692	—	-638%	Poor return
Health and Medical Administrative Services	Certificate	$36,860	—	-925%	Poor return
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services	Certificate	$24,710	—	-2,157%	Poor return
Cosmetology and Related Personal Grooming Services	Certificate	$23,492	—	-2,281%	Poor return