South Puget Sound Community College Photo #0 - The Center for Student Success at South Puget Sound Community College's Olympia Campus

South Puget Sound Community College

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South Puget Sound Community College Photo #1 - The Center for Student Success at South Puget Sound Community College's Olympia Campus
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South Puget Sound Community College Photo #1 - The Center for Student Success at South Puget Sound Community College's Olympia Campus
  • As a comprehensive, open door community college, South Puget Sound Community College is committed to providing quality educational opportunities to meet the intellectual, academic, vocational, career, personal, and developmental education needs of its students and members of the community.

School Highlights

South Puget Sound Community College serves 4,215 students (57% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is higher than the state community college average of 11:1.
Minority enrollment is 87% of the student body (majority Black), which is less than the state average of 90%.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 4,215 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,321
  • Out-state tuition: $9,556
  • Acceptance Rate: 99%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 87%
  • Source: Verified school update

School Overview

The teacher population of 366 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
South Puget Sound Community College
(WA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Four or more years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
366 staff
353 staff
This chart displays total faculty of South Puget Sound Community College and community college average number of faculty in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Number of Programs Offered
67
28

Student Body

The student population of South Puget Sound Community College has declined by 15% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 has decreased from 14:1 over five years.
The South Puget Sound Community College diversity score of 0.68 is less than the state average of 0.73. The school's diversity has grown by 5% over five years.
Total Enrollment
4,215 students
3,720 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of South Puget Sound Community College and community college average number of enrollment of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
11:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of South Puget Sound Community College and community college average student staff ratio of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
2,422 students
1,814 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of South Puget Sound Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
1,793 students
1,906 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of South Puget Sound Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of South Puget Sound Community College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Washington.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
430 students
384 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
2,422 students
1,814 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of South Puget Sound Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
11 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
1,793 students
1,906 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
6%
8%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Asian
3%
5%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
1%
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Black
12%
15%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
13%
10%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of White community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
52%
46%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Two or more races
11%
11%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Non Resident races
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in South Puget Sound Community College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in Washington by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
2%
4%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in South Puget Sound Community College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Washington.
Diversity Score
0.68
0.73
This chart displays the diversity score of South Puget Sound Community College and the community college average diversity score of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.437%
0.6947%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of South Puget Sound Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.3575%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$34,500
$36,400
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of South Puget Sound Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Washington by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $4,321 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 $9,556 is more than the state average of $7,359. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,321
$4,105
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of South Puget Sound Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$9,556
$7,359
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of South Puget Sound Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
51%
58%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in South Puget Sound Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$11,000
$11,794
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in South Puget Sound Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,424
$6,292
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in South Puget Sound Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Washington by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
99%
100%

Sports

Total Sports Offered
4 sports
Sports
Basketball, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball

Extracurriculars

Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
9 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Active Minds, ARS Nova, Creative Writing Club, Film Society, Gaming Club, Mad Hatters, Rainbow Spectrum, Tomodachi Circle, Veteran Club
Source: 2023 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • South Puget Sound Community College is a public two-year college. With more than 5,000 full-and part-time students, we are the largest college in the South Puget Sound area. Our main campus is nestled in a beautiful wooded area a few minutes away from the state capitol in Olympia, Washington. We also offer classes at our Hawks Prairie Center in Lacey and in Yelm. Founded in 1962 as Olympia Vocational Technical Institute Renamed Olympia Technical Community College in 1976 Mission expanded to become a fully comprehensive community college in 1980 Renamed South Puget Sound Community College in 1984 Established the Hawks Prairie Center in Lacey in 1995. The college offer occupational training for gaining the skills and knowledge you need for direct employment or career advancement in business and industry. Associate of Technical Arts degrees and/or certificates of completion are offered in a variety of areas. South Puget Sound Community College awards degrees of Associate of Arts, Associate Degree in Nursing, Associate of General Studies, and Associate of Technical Arts. Certificates are awarded for successful completion of vocational-technical programs. High school diplomas and the GED high school equivalency are also offered. The college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. We offer college transfer, technical and enrichment courses.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does South Puget Sound Community College cost?
South Puget Sound Community College's tuition is approximately $4,321 for In-State students and $9,556 for Out-State students.
What is the acceptance rate of South Puget Sound Community College?
The acceptance rate of South Puget Sound Community College is 99%, which is lower than the state average of 100%.
What sports does South Puget Sound Community College offer?
South Puget Sound Community College offers 4 interscholastic sports: Basketball, Golf, Soccer and Volleyball.

School Calendar

View the South Puget Sound Community College yearly calendar below. Note key dates such as:

Event
Date
WAOL CLASSES ONLY - Last Day to Withdraw and receive a "W" on the transcript
November 07, 2024 (Thursday)
WAOL CLASSES ONLY - Last Day to Withdraw and receive a "W" on the transcript
November 07, 2024 (Thursday)
Last Day to Withdraw and receive a "W" on the transcript
November 15, 2024 (Friday)
Last Day to Withdraw and receive a "W" on the transcript
November 15, 2024 (Friday)
Last Day of WAOL Classes
November 27, 2024 (Wednesday)

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Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • Enrollment: 4,215 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,321
  • Out-state tuition: $9,556
  • Acceptance Rate: 99%
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 87%
  • Source: Verified school update

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Washington public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $4,105 per year for in-state students and $7,359 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,532 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Washington is 96%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Washington community colleges have a diversity score of 0.73, which is lower than the national average of 0.75. The most diverse community college in Washington is Highline College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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