Portland Community College vs. Clark College

Comparable Facts

Compare Portland Community College in Portland, OR with Clark College in Vancouver, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Portland Community College is larger than Clark College based on total student enrollment (20,861 students vs. 7,463 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Portland Community College is located in Portland, OR (Large City setting); Clark College is in Vancouver, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Portland Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Clark College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Portland Community College 19:1; Clark College 12:1.

Portland Community College vs. Clark College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Portland Community College or Clark College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Portland Community College than Clark College ($9,372 vs. $13,528).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Portland Community College are 10.7% lower than at Clark College ($15,462 vs. $17,310).
• Clark College is 0.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Portland Community College (about $13 more per year; $5,233.00 vs. $5,220.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.1% higher at Clark College than at Portland Community College (about $743 more per year; $11,183.00 vs. $10,440.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark College than at Portland Community College (68% vs. 64%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Portland Community College students is 10% larger than aid received by Clark College students ($7,297 vs. $6,632).

Portland Community College vs. Clark College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Portland Community College or Clark College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Clark College and Portland Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Portland Community College - Open admission; Clark College - Open admission.

Portland Community College vs. Clark College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Portland Community College and Clark College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Portland Community College earn a median of about $1,200 more per year than Clark College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,900 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Clark College graduates have a $4,292 lower median loan debt than Portland Community College graduates ($12,500 vs. $16,792).
• Among borrowers, Clark College graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Portland Community College graduates ($129 vs. $173).
• More Portland Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clark College students, three years after graduation. (36% vs. 32%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.