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 Vancouver. Colleges are described, not graded.
Within 15 miles
16
39,854 students on campus
Nearest college
2.6 mi
Clark College
Residents in college
4%
Below WA (6%)
Nearest community college
2.6 mi
Clark College · $5,233 tuition
Nearest public university
2.6 mi
Clark College · $5,233 in-state
Median household income
$81K
prices below start here
What stands out about college in Vancouver
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 Vancouver’s median household income ($81,338) 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 Vancouver: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.
Portland State University53% graduate$58k earnings$20k typical debt
Mt Hood Community College24% graduate$41k earnings$14k typical debt
Clark College39% graduate$42k earnings$11k typical debt
University of Portland80% graduate$83k earnings$21k typical debt
Lewis & Clark College75% graduate$62k earnings$20k typical debt
Warner Pacific University49% graduate$55k earnings*$25k 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: Warner Pacific University (2).
Majors
What students study in Vancouver
Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Clark College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.
Liberal arts 36%Health professions 16%Business 13%Education 11%Computer science 6%Precision production 5%Everything else 12%
Biggest programs
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions22 graduates a year
$72k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations14 graduates a year
$67k4 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 Vancouver
Is Vancouver a college town?
No. About 4 of every 100 Vancouver residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Washington (6). The largest campus in the city, Clark College, has 3,971 students on campus.
What colleges are in Vancouver?
Clark College is inside the city.
What is the closest community college to Vancouver, and what does it cost?
Clark College in Vancouver, 2.6 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,233 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $11,465, counts housing and food at full cost.
How much does Clark College cost if we live in Washington?
Tuition and fees are $5,233 a year in-state and $11,183 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $8,773 (under $30,000 income) to $17,813 (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 Vancouver. 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 →
Photo: Visitor7 · CC BY-SA 3.0