students walking out of building
  • Pierce College is a community college district serving more than 24,000 students annually. Founded in 1967, the college now offers 38 associate degrees, 44 professional certificates and three bachelor degrees designed to prepare students for academic transfer and career success.
  • In the past three years, Pierce College has improved its graduation rate by 65% as a result of student retention and completion efforts. In 2016, 3,846 students received certificates, degrees and diplomas.
  • During the 2014-15 academic year, 1,188 Pierce College students (21 percent) transferred to 25 public and private Washington baccalaureate institutions.
  • Approximately one in five students from Pierce highest enrolled high schools attend Pierce College within one year of graduation.
  • In 2015, CNNMoney.com named Pierce College the most successful community college in the state, based on the percentage of students who graduated or transferred to a four-year college.
  • Pierce is one of 16 community colleges selected as an Achieving the Dream Leader College -- nationally awarded to community colleges that lead in improving student success ad closing achievement gaps.
  • Pierce College received the second-highest honor a community college can receive: Achieving the Dream’s Leah Meyer Austin Award.
  • Pierce College Fort Steilacoom was recently ranked No. 2 in Washington on a list of the top 35 two-year colleges in the nation that produce the highest paid workers.
  • Pierce College was named the top community college for veterans in the state by the Military Times – and No. 3 in the nation.
  • The prestigious Aspen Institute College Excellence Program has named Pierce to its list of the nation’s 150 best community colleges, making us eligible to apply for the $1 million Aspen award.
  • Pierce College has been selected as one of 30 community colleges in the country to participate in the American Association of Community Colleges’ Pathways Project, which includes a series of six institutes over two years.
  • In recognition of a strong commitment toward furthering the mission of community and technical colleges, Chancellor Michele Johnson received the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) 2016 Pacific Region CEO Award. The award is a result of her hard work and dedicated leadership that has strengthened the college’s ability to help students achieve their goals.
  • MSN.com ranked Pierce College No. 2 on a list of the top 35 two-year colleges in the country that produce the highest-paid workers.
  • The Center for Global Scholars is a 63-bed facility intended primarily for international students, but it is also open to local students seeking an international experience.
  • The college now offers three Bachelor of Applied Science Degrees in Dental Hygiene, Homeland Security Emergency Management and Teaching.
  • Many professors use open education resources, allowing some students to earn entire degrees without the requirement and cost of purchasing textbooks.
  • Pierce College students, faculty and staff are celebrating 50 years of providing quality educational opportunities for our diverse community of learners.