Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Bates Technical College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bellingham Technical College in Bellingham, WA with Bates Technical College in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bates Technical College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (4,083 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Bates Technical College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Bates Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Bates Technical College 21:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Bates Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Bates Technical College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bates Technical College than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute ($7,963 vs. $8,294).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bellingham Technical College and Bates Technical College ($17,310).
• Bates Technical College is 36% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $1,596 more per year; $6,027.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 109.4% higher at Bates Technical College than at Bellingham Technical College (about $6,356 more per year; $12,165.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bellingham Technical College than at Bates Technical College (52% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bates Technical College students is 30.5% larger than aid received by Bellingham Technical College students ($10,479 vs. $8,030).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Bates Technical College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Bates Technical College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Bates Technical College and Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute - Open admission; Bates Technical College - Open admission.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Bates Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and Bates Technical College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Bellingham Technical College earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Bates Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $40,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates Technical College graduates have a $8,605 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($5,895 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Bates Technical College graduates have an estimated $89 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($60 vs. $149).
• More Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bates Technical College students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 42%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.