Clark College, Vancouver

What Clark College, Vancouver does

Clark College is a public community college founded in 1933 and headquartered on a 101-acre main campus at 1933 Fort Vancouver Way in Vancouver, Washington. It is the oldest institution of higher education in Southwest Washington and has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1948; since 1967 it has operated within the Washington State community and technical college system under the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, serving as the regional provider for District 14 (Clark, Skamania, and western Klickitat counties). The college enrolls students across six areas of study — Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical, Business and Entrepreneurship, Creative and Communication Arts, Health Care and Biosciences, Public Service/Society/Education, and Science/Technology/Engineering — offering certificates, associate degrees, and select bachelor's pathways.

Its core academic technology stack consists of Canvas LMS (Instructure) for online and hybrid course delivery and the statewide ctcLink system (PeopleSoft) for admissions, registration, and student records. Distribution is delivered through four physical locations (Main Campus, Columbia Tech Center, Clark College at WSU Vancouver, and the new 49,000-sq-ft Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms in Ridgefield, opened January 2026) plus eLearning and Zoom-based student services. Notable specialty programs include the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute (backed by a $4M gift), the new Surgical Technician program co-developed with PeaceHealth (Fall 2024), and the Veterans Center of Excellence.

The business model is a hybrid of state appropriations and tuition: Washington State legislative allocations and property tax revenues flow through SBCTC as the primary funding source, supplemented by per-credit tuition and fees set by the State, non-credit Community & Continuing Education revenue, ancillary income from the Culinary Institute's retail bakery and student-run restaurant, and targeted grants (e.g., the $141,260 HEET grant for the Surgical Tech program and a ~$1M Community Project Fund award). Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer through clark.edu, the Welcome Center, K-12 Running Start recruitment, international agents, and community outreach.

Name

Clark College, Vancouver

Legal name

Clark College

Website

https://clark.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1933

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Clark College is a public community college in Vancouver, Washington, founded in 1933, serving Southwest Washington residents through associate degrees, certificates, dual-enrollment, and workforce training across four campus locations under the Washington State community college system.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC), Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD), Dual Enrollment / Early College Programs (via Community Colleges) (EDAHADAH)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce training services
• Dual enrollment programs
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. State Public Funding & Tax Revenue: Clark College is a public community college funded primarily by Washington State through the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), receiving legislative appropriations and property tax revenues as part of the statewide community college system.
2. Tuition and Fees: Students pay per-credit tuition and fees for credit-bearing courses. Financial aid, grants, and scholarships are available. The college also offers workforce education programs funded through grants.
3. Community & Continuing Education (Non-Credit): Non-credit professional development, corporate training, and continuing education classes offered through the Community & Continuing Education (CCE) program generate revenue separate from credit programs.
4. Culinary Institute Food Service Revenue: The Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute generates revenue through its retail bakery, food court, grab-and-go items, and student-run restaurant open to the public.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Clark College is a public two-year community college that delivers credit-bearing associate degree, certificate, and transfer programs across six academic areas of study, supplemented by the Running Start dual-enrollment program for high school students, eLearning online/hybrid courses, International Programs for overseas students, and Community & Continuing Education non-credit workforce training. The college also operates specialty institutes including the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute and the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms.

Product overview

Clark College is a community college offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and student support services. The institution provides academic programs across six areas of study (Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical, Business and Entrepreneurship, Creative and Communication Arts, Health Care and Biosciences, Public Service Society and Education, Science Technology and Engineering) leading to certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees. Notable specialty programs include the Surgical Technician Program (new in 2024), the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute, and the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms (new facility in 2026). The college also offers the Running Start dual enrollment program, eLearning online/hybrid options, and extensive student support services including tutoring, career services, disability access, veterans services, and financial aid. Clark College operates multiple campus locations across Clark County including main campus, Columbia Tech Center, Clark College at WSU Vancouver, and the Advanced Manufacturing Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute: State-of-the-art culinary and hospitality education facility offering cuisine management and baking and pastry arts programs.

Products and services

• Running Start State-funded dual enrollment program that allows Washington high school juniors and seniors to take Clark College courses tuition-free, earning both high school and college credit simultaneously.
• Surgical Technician Program Two-year credit program training surgical technicians, the first such program in Southwest Washington, developed in partnership with PeaceHealth and OFNHP to address regional healthcare workforce demand.
• Nursing Program One of the oldest and most respected nursing programs in Southwest Washington, preparing students for careers as registered nurses through a two-year associate degree pathway.
• Dental Hygiene Program Professional program preparing students for careers in dental hygiene with clinical practice opportunities.
• Mechatronics Program Technical program combining mechanical, electronic, and computer engineering to prepare students for advanced manufacturing careers, delivered at the Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms.
• Tod and Maxine McClaskey Culinary Institute State-of-the-art culinary and hospitality education facility offering Cuisine Management and Professional Baking and Pastry Arts programs, featuring a production kitchen, retail bakery, food court, grab-and-go items, and a student-run restaurant open to the public.
• Advanced Manufacturing Center at Boschma Farms 49,000-square-foot satellite campus in Ridgefield, WA offering technical programs in robotics, 3D printing, and mechatronics for workforce development and regional economic growth.
• eLearning Online, hybrid, and web-enhanced class options delivered through Canvas LMS, providing scheduling flexibility and convenience for remote and part-time students.
• International Programs Support services and academic pathways for international students including admissions, advising, immigration assistance, healthcare, housing, orientation, and scholarship information, with recruitment via StudyUSA and overseas education agents.
• Community and Continuing Education Non-credit workforce training, professional development, corporate training, and mature learning opportunities offered through the Community & Continuing Education (CCE) program, serving adult learners and local employers.
• Six Areas of Study (Academic Programs) Credit-bearing academic programs across six areas: Advanced Manufacturing and Mechanical; Business and Entrepreneurship; Creative and Communication Arts; Health Care and Biosciences; Public Service, Society and Education; and Science, Technology and Engineering — leading to associate degrees, certificates, and transfer pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $1 million in scholarships awarded annually to hundreds of students
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PeaceHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPeaceHealth collaborated with Clark College to develop the first Surgical Technician program in Southwest Washington. PeaceHealth, as a regional healthcare provider, provided clinical expertise and workforce need data to shape the program's curriculum and ensure graduates meet local healthcare employer requirements. Funded by a Hospital Education and Employment Training (HEET) grant of $141,260.
• Oregon Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals (OFNHP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFNHP partnered with Clark College and PeaceHealth in the development of the Surgical Technician program, contributing professional healthcare workforce expertise and labor market insights. The partnership aims to address regional healthcare staffing shortages through a structured education pathway.
• Boschma FarmsminorOthersBoschma Farms in Ridgefield, Washington, is the site of Clark College's Advanced Manufacturing Center. The 49,000-square-foot campus was developed as part of a nearly 20-year initiative to bring advanced manufacturing education to Ridgefield and support regional economic growth. The site hosts programs in robotics, 3D printing, and mechatronics.
• Washington State University VancouverminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClark College maintains a satellite location — Clark College at WSU Vancouver (CCW) — co-located on the WSU Vancouver campus. This partnership allows Clark to offer courses at WSU's facility and facilitates credit transfer pathways for students continuing their education at the four-year university.
• Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC)coreOthersClark College is a member of the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, which sets statewide policy, funding, and strategic direction for all community colleges in Washington State. The SBCTC governs curriculum standards, transfer agreements, and system-wide initiatives.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Portland Community College: Portland Community College is a large public community college system in Oregon serving the Portland metro area, directly across the Columbia River from Clark College. It serves a similar student demographic and offers comparable associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce training programs, making it the most geographically proximate peer.
• Mt. Hood Community College: Mt. Hood Community College is an Oregon public community college serving the east Portland metro and Mt. Hood region. It is comparable to Clark College in scale, mission, and program mix including associate degrees, Running Start-style dual enrollment, and workforce training.
• Central Oregon Community College: Central Oregon Community College is an Oregon public community college in Bend, offering associate degrees, transfer programs, and workforce training. Comparable to Clark in scale and mission though serving a different geographic region within the Pacific Northwest.

Direct peers

• Lower Columbia College: Lower Columbia College is a Washington State public community college in Longview, WA, serving a similar Southwest Washington region and operating under the same SBCTC governance structure as Clark. Comparable in mission, enrollment scale, and program offerings including Running Start dual enrollment.
• Tacoma Community College: Tacoma Community College is a Washington State public community college in Tacoma, operating under the same SBCTC system as Clark College. It offers comparable associate degrees, Running Start dual enrollment, healthcare workforce programs, and serves a similar student demographic.
• Spokane Community College: Spokane Community College is a Washington State public community college under the SBCTC system, offering associate degrees, technical training, and Running Start dual enrollment. Comparable to Clark in mission, structure, and program portfolio including healthcare and manufacturing programs.
• Pierce College: Pierce College is a Washington State public community college with two campuses (Puyallup and Fort Steilacoom) under the SBCTC system. Comparable to Clark in scale, structure, and offerings including Running Start, healthcare programs, and associate degree transfer pathways.
• Highline College: Highline College is a Washington State public community college in Des Moines, WA serving south King County under the SBCTC system. Comparable to Clark in mission, enrollment scale, and program mix including international student recruitment and workforce training.
• Whatcom Community College: Whatcom Community College is a Washington State public community college in Bellingham, WA operating under the SBCTC system. Comparable to Clark in scale, structure, and program offerings including Running Start and international student recruitment.

Others

• Clark College Foundation: Clark College Foundation is the affiliated 501(c)(3) foundation that administers the over $1 million in annual scholarships, special awards, and financial support for Clark College students. It functions as a fundraising and alumni-relations vehicle for the college rather than a competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clarkcollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ClarkEDU
• Facebookfacebook.com/25104639108
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clark-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/clarkcollege

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clark College, Vancouver