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Anderson Island SchoolAnderson Island School · Photo: Ben Cody · Public domain
Colleges in and near Anderson Island

Pierce College District is 5.4 miles from Anderson Island

No college sits inside Anderson Island’s boundary, but Pierce College District’s campus in Lakewood, with 3,940 students on campus, is 5.4 miles from the center of town. About 1% of Anderson Island’s residents are enrolled in college, below Washington (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Anderson Island. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
12
29,108 students on campus
Nearest college
5.4 mi
Pierce College District
Residents in college
1%
Below WA (6%)
Nearest community college
5.4 mi
Pierce College District · $5,418 tuition
Nearest public university
5.4 mi
Pierce College District · $5,418 in-state
Median household income
$80K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Anderson Island

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college 5.4 miles awayPierce College District has 3,940 students on campus in Lakewood, 31% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Pierce College DistrictLiving in Washington, Pierce College District charges $5,418 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $5,976. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 1% of residentsBelow Washington (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Anderson Island

Five private colleges within 13.4 miles, two public colleges within 14.9 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusTacomaPierce College DistrictAnderson Island
University or collegeCommunity college
Pierce College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 3,940 on campus · 5.4 mi · Lakewood$10knet price31%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $5,418 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Clover Park Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,695 on campus · 8.8 mi · Lakewood$10knet price43%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $6,634 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Martin's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,405 on campus · 9.8 mi · Lacey90%admitted$28knet price52%graduate$62kearningsTacoma Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,119 on campus · 9.9 mi · Tacoma$8knet price32%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $5,507 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pacific Lutheran UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,685 on campus · 11.3 mi · Tacoma78%admitted$20knet price69%graduate$67kearningsFaith International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 208 on campus · 11.9 mi · Tacoma$23knet price25%graduate$51kearningsUniversity of Puget SoundUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,914 on campus · 12.3 mi · Tacoma72%admitted$38knet price68%graduate$70kearningsBates Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,299 on campus · 13.1 mi · Tacoma$6knet price43%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,027 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Washington-Tacoma CampusUniversity or college · Public · 4,497 on campus · 13.2 mi · Tacoma83%admitted$10knet price63%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Northwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 150 on campus · 13.4 mi · Tacoma66%admitted$16knet price58%graduate$31kearningsSouth Puget Sound Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,236 on campus · 14.6 mi · Olympia$9knet price44%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $5,252 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.The Evergreen State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 1,960 on campus · 14.9 mi · Olympia96%admitted$24knet price41%graduate$45kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Anderson Island’s median household income ($80,282) falls.

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus13.2 mi · Tacoma · sticker $25,346$11,449a year
South Puget Sound Community College14.6 mi · Olympia · sticker $17,888 · tuition $5,252$11,781a year
Tacoma Community College9.9 mi · Tacoma · sticker $16,766 · tuition $5,507$12,371a year
Bates Technical College13.1 mi · Tacoma · sticker $18,837 · tuition $6,027$12,978a year
Clover Park Technical College8.8 mi · Lakewood · sticker $18,882 · tuition $6,634$13,166a year
Pierce College District5.4 mi · Lakewood · sticker $18,085 · tuition $5,418$14,309a year
Pacific Lutheran University11.3 mi · Tacoma · sticker $62,459$22,535a year
Northwest College of Art & Design13.4 mi · Tacoma · sticker $30,038$24,031a year
The Evergreen State College14.9 mi · Olympia · sticker $28,477$27,346a year
Saint Martin's University9.8 mi · Lacey · sticker $62,449$30,232a year
University of Puget Sound12.3 mi · Tacoma · sticker $78,378$34,870a year
Faith International University11.9 mi · Tacoma · sticker $31,368—a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Anderson Island: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Pierce College DistrictClover Park Technical CollegeTacomaPacific Lutheran UniversityBates Technical CollegeUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus
University of Washington-Tacoma Campus63% graduate$78k earnings*$15k typical debt
Tacoma Community College32% graduate$47k earnings$13k typical debt
Pierce College District31% graduate$48k earnings$12k typical debt
Bates Technical College43% graduate$50k earnings
Clover Park Technical College43% graduate$42k earnings$12k typical debt
Pacific Lutheran University69% graduate$67k earnings$23k typical debt
South Puget Sound Community College44% graduate$45k earnings$11k typical debt
The Evergreen State College41% graduate$45k earnings$20k typical debt
University of Puget Sound68% graduate$70k earnings$25k typical debt
Saint Martin's University52% graduate$62k earnings$22k typical debt
Faith International University25% graduate$51k earnings$18k typical debt
Northwest College of Art & Design58% graduate$31k earnings$31k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (3).

Questions about college near Anderson Island

Is Anderson Island a college town?

No. About 1 of every 100 Anderson Island residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The nearest campus, Pierce College District, is 5.4 miles away in Lakewood.

What colleges are near Anderson Island?

12 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (13.2 miles, 4,497 students on campus), Tacoma Community College (9.9 miles, 4,119) and Pierce College District (5.4 miles, 3,940).

What is the closest community college to Anderson Island, and what does it cost?

Pierce College District in Lakewood, 5.4 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,418 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $10,222, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Pierce College District cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $5,418 a year in-state and $5,976 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,816 (under $30,000 income) to $17,249 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Anderson Island. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →