Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Centralia College

Comparable Facts

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

Centralia College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (2,244 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Centralia College is in Centralia, WA (Distant Town setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Centralia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Centralia College 16:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Centralia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Centralia 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 Bellingham Technical College than Centralia College ($8,294 vs. $14,216).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centralia College are 0% lower than at Bellingham Technical College ($17,307 vs. $17,310).
• Centralia College is 18.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $835 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.8% higher at Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute than at Centralia College (about $158 more per year; $5,809.00 vs. $5,651.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centralia College than at Bellingham Technical College (77% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 28.9% larger than aid received by Centralia College students ($8,030 vs. $6,228).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Centralia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Centralia 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 Centralia 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; Centralia College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Centralia College Sep 1, 2026.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Centralia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and Centralia 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 $10,600 more per year than Centralia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.