- Peninsula College provides educational opportunities in the areas of academic transfer, professional/technical, basic skills, and continuing education. The College also contributes to the cultural and economic enrichment of Clallam and Jefferson Counties.
School Highlights
Peninsula College serves 2,309 students (41% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is lower than the state community college average of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 41% of the student body (majority Hispanic and American), which is less than the state average of 56%.
Quick Stats (2025)
- Enrollment: 2,309 students
- In-state tuition: $4,191
- Out-state tuition: $4,591
- Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
- Minority enrollment: 41%
- Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Top Rankings
Peninsula College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Washington for:
Category
Attribute
Affordability
School Overview
The teacher population of 198 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Peninsula College
(WA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Associate's Dominant
Baccalaureate/Associate's Colleges: Associate's Dominant
Institution Level
Four or more years
Four or more years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
198 staff
353 staff
School Calendar
Student Body
The student population of Peninsula College has grown by 17% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 has increased from 9:1 over five years.
The Peninsula College diversity score of 0.63 is less than the state average of 0.75. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
2,309 students
4,711 students
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
15:1
# Full-Time Students
954 students
2,028 students
# Part-Time Students
1,355 students
3,179 students
# Enrollment Undergraduate
230 students
494 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
954 students
2,028 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,355 students
3,179 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
5%
1%
% Asian
3%
10%
% Hispanic
11%
17%
% Black
3%
7%
% White
59%
44%
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
8%
8%
% Non Resident races
2%
3%
% Unknown races
9%
9%
Diversity Score
0.63
0.75
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
n/a
0.5723%
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
0.4178%
0.3584%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$31,600
$36,400
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
The public in-state tuition of $4,191 is more than the state average of $4,105. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $4,591 is less than the state average of $7,359. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,191
$4,105
Out-State Tuition Fees
$4,591
$7,359
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
64%
58%
Median Debt for Graduates
$13,261
$11,794
Median Debt for Dropouts
$7,063
$6,192
Acceptance Rate
n/a
99%
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators
School Notes
- Peninsula College was founded in 1961 because a group of local citizens wanted to be able to continue their education without having to travel great distances to college centers in Bremerton or across Puget Sound. The first classes were held in a small building on the Port Angeles High School campus, but the number of students who enrolled in the college quickly became more than the available facilities could accommodate, and plans were soon underway to build a permanent campus elsewhere in the city. Peninsula College is located in the foothills of the beautiful Olympic Mountains in Port Angeles, Washington. Extension sites, located in Forks and Port Townsend, provide local learning opportunities for students who reside in areas at considerable distance from the Port Angeles campus. The main campus has twenty-five buildings, including classrooms, a Microsoft training center, computer labs, a library media center, a lecture hall, a student union, a theatre, and a student services center. The college also has two extension sites. One is located in Forks, Washington, 57 miles west of Port Angeles, and the other is in Port Townsend in Jefferson County, some 46 miles east. Altogether, almost 8,000 students attend Peninsula College, including those who come from other states and from several international countries. Peninsula College offers degrees intended for transfer to four-year schools, degrees in professional/technical disciplines, programs for high school students interested in college-level courses, and a high-school diploma program for adults. Peninsula College is one of 35 community and technical colleges in the state of Washington. We are accredited by the Commission on Colleges, of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and approved by the Veterans Administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Peninsula College cost?
Peninsula College's tuition is approximately $4,191 for In-State students and $4,591 for Out-State students.
What is Peninsula College's ranking?
Peninsula College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Washington for: Least expensive tuition.
Nearby Schools
The nearest community college to Peninsula College is Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building (30.7 miles away)
School
Location
Miles
Students
Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building
Private not-for-profit
42 N Water St
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
(360) 385-4948
Port Hadlock, WA 98339
(360) 385-4948
30.7 miles
| 52 students
16101 Greenwood Ave N
Shoreline, WA 98133
(206) 546-4101
Shoreline, WA 98133
(206) 546-4101
54.4 miles
| 6,830 students
Skagit Valley College
Public
2405 E. College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 416-7600
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 416-7600
55.7 miles
| 5,949 students
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