Tacoma is home to six colleges, with about 14,000 students on campus
The University of Washington-Tacoma Campus (4,497 students on campus) and Tacoma Community College (4,119) are inside the city. About 6% of Tacoma’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 Tacoma. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
11
31,731 students on campus
Nearest college
0.6 mi
Bates Technical College
Residents in college
6%
About the same as WA (6%)
Nearest community college
0.6 mi
Bates Technical College · $6,027 tuition
Nearest public university
0.6 mi
Bates Technical College · $6,027 in-state
Median household income
$86K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Tacoma
Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.
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 Tacoma’s median household income ($85,884) 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 Tacoma: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Green River College39% graduate$51k earnings$12k typical debt
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
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 Tacoma
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field across Tacoma’s 6 colleges, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Business 17%Health professions 17%Liberal arts 11%Computer science 10%Psychology 5%Education 4%Everything else 36%
Biggest programs
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus · 268 graduates a year
$115k4 yrs out
Psychology, GeneralUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus · 180 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus · 107 graduates a year
$79k4 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus · 101 graduates a year
$99k4 yrs out
Biology, GeneralUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus · 86 graduates a year
$59k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and OperationsUniversity of Puget Sound · 68 graduates a year
$78k4 yrs out
Communication and Media StudiesUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus · 61 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsUniversity of Washington-Tacoma Campus · 61 graduates a year
$63k4 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 Tacoma
Is Tacoma a college town?
No. About 6 of every 100 Tacoma residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, the University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, has 4,497 students on campus.
What colleges are in Tacoma?
The University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, Tacoma Community College, Bates Technical College, the University of Puget Sound and 2 more are inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Tacoma, and what does it cost?
Bates Technical College in Tacoma, 0.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,027 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $6,292, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Bates Technical College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $6,027 a year in-state and $12,165 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $4,403 (under $30,000 income) to $17,404 (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 Tacoma. 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 →
Fireboat No.1 · Photo: Mike Lane · CC BY-SA 3.0