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American Lake in WA, USAPhoto: ECTran71 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Lakewood

Lakewood is home to two colleges, with 6,635 students on campus

Pierce College District (3,940 students on campus) and Clover Park Technical College (2,695) are inside the city, and Pacific Lutheran University (2,685) is 4.3 miles from the center, just over the line in Parkland. About 6% of Lakewood’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington (6%).

Clover Park Technical CollegePierce College DistrictPacific Lutheran University

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 Lakewood. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
9
23,507 students on campus
Nearest college
1.6 mi
Clover Park Technical College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as WA (6%)
Nearest community college
1.6 mi
Clover Park Technical College · $6,634 tuition
Nearest public university
1.6 mi
Clover Park Technical College · $6,634 in-state
Median household income
$75K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Lakewood

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

Three colleges within 4.3 milesPacific Lutheran University admits 78% of applicants. Together they have 9,320 students on campus.A community college 1.6 miles awayClover Park Technical College in Lakewood: tuition and fees $6,634 a year for Washington residents.In-state price at Clover Park Technical CollegeLiving in Washington, Clover Park Technical College charges $6,634 in tuition and fees, the same for every student.Students are 6% of residentsAbout the same as Washington (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Lakewood

Four private colleges within 8 miles, one public college within 7 miles, and four community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusTacomaPierce College DistrictLakewood
University or collegeCommunity college
Clover Park Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,695 on campus · In Lakewood$10knet price43%graduate$42kearningsTuition and fees: $6,634 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Pierce College DistrictCommunity college · Public · 3,940 on campus · In 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 · 4.3 mi · Tacoma78%admitted$20knet price69%graduate$67kearningsTacoma Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,119 on campus · 5.6 mi · Tacoma$8knet price32%graduate$47kearningsTuition and fees: $5,507 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Washington-Tacoma CampusUniversity or college · Public · 4,497 on campus · 7 mi · Tacoma83%admitted$10knet price63%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Bates Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,299 on campus · 7.2 mi · Tacoma$6knet price43%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,027 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.University of Puget SoundUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,914 on campus · 7.2 mi · Tacoma72%admitted$38knet price68%graduate$70kearningsNorthwest College of Art & DesignUniversity or college · For-profit · 150 on campus · 7.4 mi · Tacoma66%admitted$16knet price58%graduate$31kearningsFaith International UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 208 on campus · 8 mi · Tacoma$23knet price25%graduate$51kearnings

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 $48–75k, where Lakewood’s median household income ($74,720) falls.

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus7 mi · Tacoma · sticker $25,346$6,748a year
Bates Technical College7.2 mi · Tacoma · sticker $18,837 · tuition $6,027$7,371a year
Tacoma Community College5.6 mi · Tacoma · sticker $16,766 · tuition $5,507$8,108a year
Clover Park Technical CollegeIn Lakewood · sticker $18,882 · tuition $6,634$11,534a year
Pierce College DistrictIn Lakewood · sticker $18,085 · tuition $5,418$11,592a year
Pacific Lutheran University4.3 mi · Tacoma · sticker $62,459$15,756a year
Northwest College of Art & Design7.4 mi · Tacoma · sticker $30,038$17,146a year
University of Puget Sound7.2 mi · Tacoma · sticker $78,378$31,649a year
Faith International University8 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 Lakewood: 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 →Clover Park Technical CollegePierce College DistrictPacific Lutheran UniversityTacomaUniversity of Washington-Tacoma CampusBates Technical 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
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).

Majors

What students study in Lakewood

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Lakewood’s 2 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 42%Health professions 13%Business 8%Computer science 6%Mechanics & repair 6%Education 3%Everything else 21%

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Lakewood

Is Lakewood a college town?

No. About 6 of every 100 Lakewood residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, Pierce College District, has 3,940 students on campus.

What colleges are in Lakewood?

Pierce College District and Clover Park Technical College are inside the city. Pacific Lutheran University is 4.3 miles from the center, in Parkland.

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

Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, 1.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,634 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $9,864, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Clover Park Technical College cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $6,634 a year in-state and $6,634 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,515 (under $30,000 income) to $16,160 (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 Lakewood. 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 →