Pierce College Fort Steilacoom | Field Guide 2023

Pierce College logo

Pierce College Fort Steilacoom is part of the Pierce College District, a community college district serving more than 13,000 students annually. Founded in 1967, the college now offers 26 associate degrees, 52 professional certificates and six applied bachelor’s degrees designed to prepare students for academic transfer and career success.

By offering affordable and accessible programs, Pierce College Fort Steilacoom helps people of every age and background to learn and thrive in today’s economy. Whether students are 16 or 60, just out of high school or working adults, our college prepares them for the next step up in life. As a community college that serves a large number of lower-income students and students of color, our college is key to creating a stronger and more inclusive economy.

Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

Nursing AAS
Pre-Nursing DTA/MRP
Science Transfer AS
Business DTA/MRP
Biology DTA/MRP

*Direct Transfer Agreement/Major Related Program

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 13,008
FTES (all sources): 6,896
Headcount (state-funded): 8,262
FTES (state-funded): 3,471

Students in Selected Programs

Applied bachelor's: 225
Apprentices: 15
I-BEST: 59
International: 231
Running Start: 1,994
Worker Retraining: 190

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 59%
Basic skills: 6%
Workforce education: 19%
Other: 16%

Race/Ethnicity*

Students of color: 51%

American Indian/Alaska Native: 4%
Asian: 15%
Black/African American: 16%
Hispanic/Latino: 20%
Pacific Islander: 4%
White: 66%

Attendance

Full-time: 53%
Part-time: 47%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 37%
Students with dependents: 38%

Gender

Female: 64%
Male: 36%

Median age

Points of Interest

Now offering 6 Bachelor of Applied Science degrees

Pierce College currently offers six Bachelor of Applied Science degrees: Dental Hygiene, P-3 Teaching, Homeland Security Emergency Management, Applied Business Management, Fire Services Leadership and Management and Construction Management. Our newest program, the BAS in Construction Management, launched in fall 2022. These degrees are an important part of our Guided Pathways movement, providing students with comprehensive program maps to equip them with the skills to succeed in their chosen careers.

Leading college for military affiliated students

Pierce College at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) delivers university transfer and professional-technical pathways to active-duty military, reserves, veterans and families, with flexible policies to help them succeed. Our use of open educational resources has saved students more than $3 million since 2015. The college is also a leader in Veterans Industry Education 25, a partnership between community and technical colleges, state agencies, and the armed forces, offering transitioning service members education to prepare for Washington’s most in-demand industries. As a result of our service to veterans, Pierce College was ranked the No. 1 community college in the nation for veterans — and top college overall in the Northwest by the Military Times.

Providing top-notch facilities for tomorrow’s dental hygienists and veterinary technologists

Pierce College opened the doors to the 36,000-square-foot Glacier Building in fall 2022, which provides state-of-the-art learning spaces for our Dental Hygiene and Veterinary Technology programs. This new facility is also home to our Dental Hygiene Clinic, providing low-cost services to the public, as well as high-quality facilities for animals in the care of our veterinary technology program.

Data is from the 2021-22 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted. Data is for Pierce College District.

*Students of color percent based on unduplicated headcount. Students may be counted in more than one race, so race/ethnicity percentages may not total 100%. Percentages calculated on reported value.