Pierce College District

What is the cost of studying for a year at Pierce College District?

For 2024-25, the reported average full-time undergraduate tuition was $4,775 for in-state students and $5,333 for out-of-state students. Required fees were reported as $643 in either category. Together, those figures amount to $5,418 and $5,976, respectively, for tuition and required fees under that reporting definition - not a complete annual living budget.

• In-state tuition and required fees, 2025-26: $5,418.
• Out-of-state tuition and required fees, 2025-26: $32,675.
• Reported part-time tuition charge: $128 per credit for in-state students and $146 per credit for out-of-state students, before applicable fees.

Students also need to budget for books or course materials, transportation, food, housing and personal expenses. Charges can change with credit load, course fees, residency classification and program. Pierce's current tuition schedule and its financial-aid cost-of-attendance budget serve different purposes: the first identifies billed charges, while the second estimates expenses students may incur even if they do not pay them to the college.

Financial aid changes the comparison. In the 2024-25 figures, 57% of students received financial aid, while 11% had student loans. The average grant award reported for undergraduate recipients was $6,851. Those averages do not describe any one student's package. Reported average net prices also varied by family income; for students in the $0-$48,000 income band, the figure was $9,066. Net price reflects estimated costs after grant or scholarship aid, so it should not be confused with a tuition bill or with the amount every student must borrow.

Eligible students may finance attendance through federal grants, Washington state aid, scholarships, veterans' education benefits and, if they choose, federal loans. The FAFSA or Washington Application for State Financial Aid is the usual starting point for determining eligibility, depending on the student's circumstances. Students should check current filing and scholarship deadlines because an admission application alone does not apply for aid.

What are the work-study opportunities at Pierce College District?

Eligible Pierce College students can pursue student employment, including Federal Work-Study positions when they receive a work-study award and a suitable job is available. Federal Work-Study is a form of financial aid earned through wages; it is not a grant paid automatically or a guarantee of a position.

Students interested in work-study should complete the appropriate financial-aid application, review their award and follow Pierce's student-employment instructions for applying to openings. Ordinary part-time jobs and internships may also provide income or experience, but they have different eligibility and funding rules. Career support can help students explore occupations, prepare application materials and look for work; those services should be distinguished from a verified job-placement outcome.