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Colleges in and near Fircrest

The University of Washington-Tacoma Campus is 3.7 miles from Fircrest

No college sits inside Fircrest’s boundary, but the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus’s campus in Tacoma, with 4,497 students on campus, is 3.7 miles from the center of town, and Tacoma Community College is 1.1 miles away in Tacoma. About 8% of Fircrest’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as 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 Fircrest. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
10
27,024 students on campus
Nearest college
1.1 mi
Tacoma
Residents in college
8%
About the same as WA (6%)
Nearest community college
1.1 mi
Tacoma · $5,507 tuition
Nearest public university
1.1 mi
Tacoma · $5,507 in-state
Median household income
$114K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Fircrest

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

Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Fircrest

Four private colleges within 6.9 miles, one public college within 3.7 miles, and five community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusTacomaPierce College DistrictFircrest
University or collegeCommunity college
Tacoma Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,119 on campus · 1.1 mi · Tacoma$8knet price32%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $5,507 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Puget SoundUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,914 on campus · 2.8 mi · Tacoma72%admitted$38knet price68%graduate$70kearningsFaith International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 208 on campus · 3.4 mi · Tacoma$23knet price25%graduate$51kearningsBates Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,299 on campus · 3.5 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 · 3.7 mi · Tacoma83%admitted$10knet price63%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Clover Park Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,695 on campus · 3.9 mi · Lakewood$10knet price43%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $6,634 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Northwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 150 on campus · 3.9 mi · Tacoma66%admitted$16knet price58%graduate$31kearningsPierce College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 3,940 on campus · 4.8 mi · Lakewood$10knet price31%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $5,418 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pacific Lutheran UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,685 on campus · 6.9 mi · Tacoma78%admitted$20knet price69%graduate$67kearningsHighline CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,517 on campus · 14.8 mi · Des Moines$10knet price35%graduate$48kearningsTuition and fees: $4,772 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

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 Over $110k, where Fircrest’s median household income ($113,926) falls.

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 Fircrest: 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 →TacomaBates Technical CollegeUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusClover Park Technical CollegePierce College DistrictHighline College
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
Highline College35% graduate$48k earnings$10k 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
University of Puget Sound68% graduate$70k earnings$25k 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 Fircrest

Is Fircrest a college town?

No. About 8 of every 100 Fircrest residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The nearest campus, Tacoma Community College, is 1.1 miles away in Tacoma.

What colleges are near Fircrest?

10 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (3.7 miles, 4,497 students on campus), Tacoma Community College (1.1 miles, 4,119) and Pierce College District (4.8 miles, 3,940).

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

Tacoma Community College in Tacoma, 1.1 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,507 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $8,376, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Tacoma Community College cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $5,507 a year in-state and $11,646 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,112 (under $30,000 income) to $16,093 (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 Fircrest. 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 →