Career Training Path › Washington › South Puget Sound Community College
South Puget Sound Community College
Olympia, Washington · Public community college · Training programs available:
Address: 2011 Mottman Rd SW, Olympia, WA 98512 · Phone: (360) 596-5200 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
South Puget Sound Community College is a public trade and career school in Olympia, WA offering welding, dental assistant, and medical assistant programs, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, graduates of South Puget Sound Community College carry a median debt of $11,000 and earn a median of $45,039 ten years after entry; the campus completion rate versus the 66.1% state average is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for South Puget Sound Community College; contact the school for current tuition. The school participates in federal Title IV aid, and about 22.4% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers | $47,980 | $63,020 | $73,650 |
| Dental assistants | $46,280 | $58,090 | $62,340 |
| Medical assistants | $46,540 | $59,290 | $63,590 |
| Automotive service technicians and mechanics | $39,470 | $57,270 | $76,960 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $49,920 | $76,010 | $81,540 |
| Medical records specialists | $45,500 | $62,270 | $79,680 |
| Machinists | $48,360 | $66,160 | $80,340 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Washington (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 18 | $33,049 | $33,993 | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 17 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Associate degree | 13 | $34,173 | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 11 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Dental Support Services and Allied Professions | Certificate, under 300 hours | 10 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 8 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 7 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians | Associate degree | 6 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, 1–2 years | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Associate degree | 5 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Precision Metal Working | Certificate, under 300 hours | 4 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 3 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 1–2 years | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
South Puget Sound Community College is a public community college located in Olympia, Washington, a small city setting. The school participates in federal Title IV financial aid, meaning students may use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for their education. The college holds accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, along with program-specific accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the National League for Nursing's Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation. Among its 14 trade and career program families, the campus awards the most credentials in welding schools (31), dental assistant schools (23), and medical assistant programs (18).
In terms of outcomes, the campus reported 113 trade program completers against an undergraduate enrollment of 3,075. The state average completion rate is 66.1%, though this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to that state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates who took out loans carry a median debt of $11,000, and median earnings ten years after entry are reported at $45,039. About 22.4% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating some low-income student representation. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data.
This campus may suit students seeking shorter, credential-focused trade training in fields like welding, dental assisting, or medical assisting, though the exact program lengths are not detailed here. Adults considering a career change should independently verify accreditation status, program details, and outcome data directly with the school or by reviewing the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard listing for South Puget Sound Community College before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
South Puget Sound Community College offers 14 trade and career program families, with the most completions in welding schools (31), dental assistant schools (23), and medical assistant programs (18).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, the college is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, with additional program-specific accreditation from the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation and the National League for Nursing's Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
The campus's specific completion rate and its comparison to the state average are not reported for this campus in federal data. The state average completion rate is 66.1%.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates who borrowed carry a median debt of $11,000, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings for graduates are reported at $45,039 ten years after entry, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (360) 596-5200 or visit its website for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
This is a public community college, which typically means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state and federal funding support.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the data provided; contact the school directly to confirm program duration.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can verify accreditation status through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and check federal outcome data via the College Scorecard at https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?236656.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The campus offers credential-focused programs like welding, dental assisting, and medical assisting, but specific data on adult or career-changer fit is not reported; contact the school to discuss your situation.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not detailed in the available data; contact the school directly for program-specific requirements.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach South Puget Sound Community College at (360) 596-5200 or through its website at https://www.spscc.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in the data provided; consult the College Scorecard for side-by-side comparisons.
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Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.