Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Clark College

Comparable Facts

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

Clark College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (7,463 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Clark College is in Vancouver, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Clark College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Clark College 12:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Clark College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Clark 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 Clark College ($8,294 vs. $13,528).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bellingham Technical College and Clark College ($17,310).
• Clark College is 18.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $802 more per year; $5,233.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 92.5% higher at Clark College than at Bellingham Technical College (about $5,374 more per year; $11,183.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clark College than at Bellingham Technical College (68% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 21.1% larger than aid received by Clark College students ($8,030 vs. $6,632).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Clark College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Clark 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 Clark 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; Clark College - Open admission.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Clark College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and Clark 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 $4,800 more per year than Clark College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Clark College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($12,500 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Clark College graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($129 vs. $149).
• More Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Clark College students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 32%)

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.