True College Verdict
C

Yakima Valley College

Yakima, WA · 2,770 undergraduates · 44% receive Pell Grants
PublicMainly associate degrees

About average. It ranks 261 of 812 two-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 56.1 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
No
Average net price $17,448 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $9,953.
Will most students finish?
About half
52% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 36%.
Is it worth the price?
Likely
Graduates owe a typical $12,500 against earnings of $45,860, a ratio of 0.27. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Yakima Valley College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

  • 52% of students graduate, better than 77% of two-year colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Expensive: the average student pays about $17,448 a year after grants, more than at 72% of two-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
52%
Better than 77% of similar colleges. Typical: 36%
Return for year 2
n/a
Typical: 64%
Earnings after 10 years
$45,860
Better than 55% of similar colleges. Typical: $45,146
Debt at graduation
$12,500
Better than 41% of similar colleges. Typical: $12,000
Net price per year
$17,448
Better than 28% of similar colleges. Typical: $9,953
Published tuition
$5,528
Out of state: $6,113

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

Associate degrees: largest programs

Certificates and diplomas: largest programs

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Yakima Valley College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

Compare with other colleges Estimate your cost

The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other two-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.