Pierce College

What Pierce College does

Pierce College District is a public community college system operating as Washington State Community College District No. 11, founded in 1967 and headquartered in Puyallup, Washington. It serves Pierce County and surrounding communities through two main campuses (Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood and Puyallup), two education centers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Stone and McChord), and embedded college courses at Bethel and Spanaway Lake high schools. The institution offers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees (including the BAS-T in Teaching), professional/technical certificates (including AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology and a Paramedic Certificate with a CoAEMSP Letter of Review), and continuing education, alongside an English as a Second Language program and a Dental Hygiene Clinic that accepts Apple Health Care Insurance. Core technology consists of third-party EdTech platforms: Canvas LMS for online and hybrid course delivery, the ctcLink student portal for enrollment, registration, and financial aid management, and Starfish for advising appointments and scheduling. Revenue derives from a combination of state and federal appropriations, student tuition and fees (with in-state rates extended to active-duty military and dependents at JBLM), and auxiliary transactional revenue from the Dental Hygiene Clinic, where services are priced 80-95% below private dental offices. The go-to-market motion is sales-led in the sense of traditional community college enrollment, targeting students through academic advising, direct campus presence, high school Running Start partnerships, military base education centers, and community outreach programs, with marketing conducted through the institutional website and standard social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn). The Pierce College Foundation operates as a separately incorporated 501(c)(3) fundraising affiliate with an independent board.

Name

Pierce College

Legal name

Pierce College District

Website

https://pierce.ctc.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Pierce College District is a public Washington State community college serving Pierce County with two main campuses (Lakewood, Puyallup), JBLM military education centers, and high school partnership sites, offering associate and bachelor's degrees, certificates, ESL, and a low-cost dental clinic to traditional students, military personnel, and community members.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Associate degree programs
• Military education services
• Vocational training programs
• Continuing education courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Puyallup

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from student tuition, course fees, and lab fees for credit and non-credit programs
2. Government Funding: State and federal funding for public community college operations
3. Dental Hygiene Clinic Services: Low-cost dental services provided by students under supervision, with fees ranging from $15-$180 depending on service type

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Pierce College District is a public community college system that delivers associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, certificates, and continuing education programs through two main campuses in Lakewood and Puyallup, military education centers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and high school partnership sites. Its academic portfolio spans credit programs such as Veterinary Technology (AAS), Paramedic Certificate, and Bachelor of Applied Science in Teaching, plus non-credit offerings including the low-cost Dental Hygiene Clinic and English as a Second Language classes for the immigrant community.

Product overview

Pierce College District is a community college system offering associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, certificates, and continuing education programs. The institution operates two main campuses (Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood and Puyallup) plus education centers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and local high schools. Key programs include Veterinary Technology (AAS), Paramedic Certificate, Bachelor of Applied Science in Teaching, and Pierce Open Pathways (OER-based degree). Supporting services include a Dental Hygiene Clinic, Military and Veterans Resource Center, TRIO programs, and Testing Centers. The college serves diverse student populations including Running Start high school students, military personnel, international students, and adult learners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pierce Open Pathways (POP): Fully transferable Associate of Arts degree using open educational resources (OER) with no textbook costs, offered at JBLM location
• Military and Veterans Resource Center
• TRIO Programs

Products and services

• Veterinary Technology Program (AAS) An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree program that trains students to become veterinary technicians, providing high-quality care to animals in animal hospitals and zoological parks. Accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association and Washington State Veterinary Medical Association.
• Paramedic Certificate A one-year certificate program that prepares current EMTs to provide advanced emergency medical care. The cohort program runs annually from January to December, with students placed in local agencies and hospitals for clinical and field time. Pierce reports a 100% NREMT-P passing rate and 100% positive placement within eight weeks.
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Teaching (BAS-T) A bachelor's degree program leading to teacher licensure with dual endorsements in P-3 general education and P-3 special education. Builds off an AAS-T degree in Early Childhood Education.
• Dental Hygiene Clinic A low-cost dental hygiene clinic providing preventive and limited restorative dental services to the public. Services are performed by students under licensed professional supervision, accepting Apple Health Care Insurance, with fees ranging from $15 to $180 (80-95% below private dental office pricing).
• Pierce College at JBLM Education programs at Joint Base Lewis-McChord serving active-duty military personnel, family members, VA benefit recipients, and civilians. Offers accelerated 9-week courses online and in-person at Stone and McChord Education Centers, with in-state tuition rates for active duty, guard, reserve personnel and family members.
• Pierce Open Pathways (POP) A fully transferable Associate of Arts degree using open educational resources (OER), meaning little to no textbook cost. Available at JBLM, saving students more than $2,000 in textbook costs throughout their two-year degree.
• Running Start Program A program allowing high school students to take college courses, earning both high school and college credits simultaneously.
• Pierce College at Bethel Schools Degree courses offered at Bethel and Spanaway Lake high schools for Running Start students and high school graduates, including College Success, Communication Studies, English 101/102, Early Childhood Education, and Statistics.
• English as a Second Language (ESL) Integrated ESL classes designed for the immigrant community, including social studies, language, writing, mathematics, reading, history, and science. Also includes the I-DEA digital English acceleration program.
• Testing Centers National Testing Centers at JBLM and Fort Steilacoom offering CLEP, DSST, Pearson VUE, MSSC, TEAS, and proctored exams for students and the community.
• Dining Services Café services at both Fort Steilacoom (Cascade Building, 4th Floor) and Puyallup (College Center Building, 1st Floor) campuses offering various meal options.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% NREMT-P passing rate for Paramedic Program graduates
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Local Dental Clinics and DentistsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with local dental clinics and dentists to fully serve the oral health needs of the community, particularly underserved, low income, uninsured and state-insured populations served by the Dental Hygiene Clinic
• Department of Defense / Military BranchescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducation programs specifically designed for active-duty military personnel at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Stone and McChord Education Centers, with over 50 years of service
• Bethel School DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPierce College offers degree courses at Bethel High School including College Success, Communication Studies, English 101 and English 102
• Franklin Pierce School District (Spanaway)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPierce College at Spanaway offers hybrid classes at Spanaway Lake High School including Early Childhood Education 107 and Math 146
• Keithley Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRIO Talent Search pre-college program providing mentoring and coaching for students at Keithley Middle School
• Washington High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRIO Talent Search pre-college program providing mentoring and coaching for students at Washington High School
• Franklin Pierce High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTRIO Talent Search pre-college program providing mentoring and coaching for students at Franklin Pierce High School
• Pierce County TransitminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBus service information provided for transportation to Pierce College campuses and around Pierce County
• American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccreditation partnership for Veterinary Technology program; also associated with National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) and Washington State Association of Veterinary Technicians (WSAVT)

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tacoma Community College: Washington State community college also serving the Tacoma/Pierce County metro with associate degrees, transfer pathways, and workforce programs. Closest geographic and demographic peer to Pierce.
• Bellevue College: Large Washington State community college offering associate and bachelor's degrees, including healthcare and tech-focused programs that overlap with Pierce's portfolio.
• South Puget Sound Community College: Washington State community college serving the South Sound region with overlapping transfer, workforce, and Running Start offerings that compete for similar students.
• Edmonds College: Washington State community college with international student programs, transfer pathways, and workforce training comparable in scope to Pierce's offerings.
• Highline College: Public community college in Washington State offering associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, and ESL programs with a comparable urban-serving mission and demographics.
• Renton Technical College: Washington technical college focused on workforce and trades programs with overlapping healthcare, veterinary, and trades offerings that compete for similar student segments.
• Green River College: Washington State community college with comparable transfer and workforce pathways; competes for similar Pierce County and South Sound adult learner populations.
• Clover Park Technical College: Lakewood-based technical college adjacent to Pierce's Fort Steilacoom campus, offering similar workforce, healthcare, and trades programs and overlapping service territory in Pierce County.

Regional players

• Centralia College: Washington's oldest community college operating in Lewis and Thurston counties; comparable mission and program mix but serves a different immediate geography from Pierce.
• Olympic College: Washington State community college serving the Kitsap Peninsula with similar transfer, workforce, and military-affiliated student services; comparable mission but distinct geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/piercecollege
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@PierceCollegeDist11
• Facebookfacebook.com/PierceCollegeDistrict
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pierce-college-district-11
• Instagraminstagram.com/piercecollege

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Pierce College