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Capitol Lake, Olympia, Washington, July 20, 2025 (cropped)Photo: OceanLoop · CC BY-SA 4.0
Colleges in and near Olympia

Olympia is home to South Puget Sound Community College

South Puget Sound Community College (2,236 students on campus) is inside the city, and The Evergreen State College (1,960) is 4.5 miles from the center, in Olympia. About 5% of Olympia’s residents are enrolled in college, below Washington (6%).

South Puget Sound Community CollegeSaint Martin's UniversityThe Evergreen State College

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 Olympia. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
3
5,601 students on campus
Nearest college
2 mi
South Puget Sound
Residents in college
5%
Below WA (6%)
Nearest community college
2 mi
South Puget Sound · $5,252 tuition
Nearest public university
2 mi
South Puget Sound · $5,252 in-state
Median household income
$81K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Olympia

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

Three colleges within 4.5 milesSaint Martin's University admits 90% of applicants; The Evergreen State College admits 96%. Together they have 5,601 students on campus.A community college 2 miles awaySouth Puget Sound Community College in Olympia: tuition and fees $5,252 a year for Washington residents.In-state price at South Puget SoundLiving in Washington, South Puget Sound Community College charges $5,252 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $5,813. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 5% of residentsBelow Washington (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Olympia

One private college within 3.7 miles, one public college within 4.5 miles, and South Puget Sound Community College 2 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miSouth Puget SoundThe Evergreen State CollegeSaint Martin's UniversityOlympia
University or collegeCommunity college
South Puget Sound Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,236 on campus · In Olympia$9knet price44%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $5,252 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Saint Martin's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,405 on campus · 3.7 mi · Lacey90%admitted$28knet price52%graduate$62kearningsThe Evergreen State CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 1,960 on campus · 4.5 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 Olympia’s median household income ($81,302) falls.

South Puget Sound Community CollegeIn Olympia · sticker $17,888 · tuition $5,252$11,781a year
The Evergreen State College4.5 mi · Olympia · sticker $28,477$27,346a year
Saint Martin's University3.7 mi · Lacey · sticker $62,449$30,232a 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 Olympia: 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 →South Puget SoundSaint Martin's UniversityThe Evergreen State College
South Puget Sound Community College44% graduate$45k earnings$11k typical debt
The Evergreen State College41% graduate$45k earnings$20k typical debt
Saint Martin's University52% graduate$62k earnings$22k 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.

Majors

What students study in Olympia

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at South Puget Sound Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Liberal arts 56%Business 10%Health professions 8%Education 7%Computer science 5%Precision production 5%Everything else 9%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities550 graduates a year
$43k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General47 graduates a year
$61k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing28 graduates a year
$85k4 yrs out
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications21 graduates a year
$66k4 yrs out
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services18 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations15 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Computer Programming13 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions13 graduates a year
$36k4 yrs out

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 Olympia

Is Olympia a college town?

No. About 5 of every 100 Olympia residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, South Puget Sound Community College, has 2,236 students on campus.

What colleges are in Olympia?

South Puget Sound Community College is inside the city. The Evergreen State College is 4.5 miles from the center, in Olympia, and Saint Martin's University is 3.7 miles from the center, in Lacey.

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

South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia, 2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,252 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $9,132, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does South Puget Sound Community College cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $5,252 a year in-state and $5,813 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $7,757 (under $30,000 income) to $16,766 (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 Olympia. 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 →