Students at Grays Harbor College benefit from exceptional affordability, with net prices that rank among the lowest in the nation across all income brackets.
The college provides meaningful access to higher education for first-generation students and working-class families who need to minimize upfront costs.
Grays Harbor College is a small public community college located in Aberdeen, Washington, serving students primarily from the local region. While the institution excels at affordability—ranking in the top tier nationally for keeping costs low across all income levels—its long-term earnings outcomes place it in the bottom quartile among similar institutions. This reflects the college's role as a community college focused on foundational education, workforce training, and transfer preparation rather than direct four-year degree completion.
The college serves a substantial population of first-generation students, with over 51% coming from families where parents did not attend college, and about 28% receiving Pell Grants. However, completion rates remain challenging, with only about 32% of students completing programs within six years. The institution falls into the "Opportunity Builders" mobility category, indicating it provides access to students who need it but faces ongoing challenges in converting that access into strong long-term economic outcomes.
As a community college, Grays Harbor College fills an important regional role by offering affordable education and training opportunities. For students who use it as intended—as a stepping stone to transfer or for specific workforce credentials—it can provide value. However, families should understand that the earnings outcomes reflect the institution's community college mission rather than the four-year degree pathways that typically drive higher long-term earnings.
Program-level data is not available for detailed analysis, which is common for smaller community colleges that may offer a focused set of associate degree and certificate programs. Community colleges typically concentrate on foundational liberal arts courses for transfer students, along with workforce training programs in areas like healthcare support, skilled trades, business fundamentals, and technical fields that serve local employer needs.
Without specific program data, families should research the college's current offerings directly, paying particular attention to transfer agreements with four-year institutions and workforce programs that align with regional job markets. The modest earnings outcomes suggest that students who achieve the strongest long-term results are likely those who use Grays Harbor College as a stepping stone—either transferring to complete bachelor's degrees or combining their associate degree with additional training, certifications, or work experience that builds on their foundational education.
Graduates of Grays Harbor College see modest long-term earnings that reflect the institution's community college mission and program focus. Ten years after enrollment, median earnings reach $40,865, which places the college in the bottom quartile nationally for earnings outcomes. Six-year earnings are considerably lower at $33,119, showing the typical early-career trajectory for community college graduates who may still be completing their education or entering entry-level positions.
The college's earnings performance falls short of expectations when compared with similar institutions, with graduates earning about $3,272 less than what would be predicted based on student characteristics and regional factors. This pattern is common among community colleges, where many students are still in transition—either completing transfer degrees at four-year institutions or building work experience in fields that may require additional training or certification beyond the associate degree level.
Only 32 graduates earn more than $75,000 annually, reflecting the reality that most programs lead to entry-level or mid-level career paths rather than high-earning professional fields. The college's role is primarily to provide foundational education, workforce training, and transfer preparation, which means that many students' ultimate earnings will depend significantly on what they do after leaving Grays Harbor College—whether that's transferring to complete a bachelor's degree or gaining additional experience in their chosen field.
Grays Harbor College stands out nationally for its exceptional affordability across all income levels. Low-income students pay just $1,557 per year after aid, while middle-income families see annual costs of $4,969, and even higher-income students pay only $9,110—all figures that rank in the top tier nationally for affordability. This pricing structure makes the college accessible to virtually any family, regardless of financial circumstances.
Debt levels remain very manageable for students who do borrow. Typical federal student loan debt is about $11,075, a modest amount that reflects both the low cost of attendance and the shorter duration of most community college programs. Parent PLUS borrowing averages $8,767, also a relatively small amount that suggests families can cover most costs through the combination of low net prices, financial aid, and modest borrowing.
The college's affordability advantage is particularly meaningful for working-class families and first-generation students who need to minimize educational costs while building skills or preparing for transfer. With no federal loan defaults reported, the debt levels appear sustainable for graduates, though the modest earnings outcomes mean that even small debt amounts require careful management in the early career years.
Grays Harbor College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
