Photo: Steven Pavlov · CC BY-SA 3.0Green River College is 5.1 miles from Pacific
No college sits inside Pacific’s boundary, but Green River College’s campus in Auburn, with 4,707 students on campus, is 5.1 miles from the center of town, and Highline College is 9 miles away in Des Moines. About 4% of Pacific’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 Pacific. Colleges are described, not graded.
What stands out about college from Pacific
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
Colleges within 15 miles of Pacific
Five private colleges within 14.4 miles, two public colleges within 8.8 miles, and four community colleges.
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 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.
Starts at Over $110k, where Pacific’s median household income ($115,625) 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.
Do students finish, and does it pay?
Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Pacific: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
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); Pima Medical Institute-Renton (13).
Questions about college near Pacific
Is Pacific a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Pacific residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The nearest campus, Green River College, is 5.1 miles away in Auburn.
What colleges are near Pacific?
11 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Green River College (5.1 miles, 4,707 students on campus), the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (8.8 miles, 4,497) and Tacoma Community College (12.8 miles, 4,119).
What is the closest community college to Pacific, and what does it cost?
Highline College in Des Moines, 9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $4,772 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $9,879, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Green River College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $4,711 a year in-state and $5,263 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,415 (under $30,000 income) to $21,533 (over $110,000), housing and food included.
Neighbors talk college
Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.
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 Pacific. 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 →