Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. CPTC

Comparable Facts

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

Clover Park Technical College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (3,408 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Clover Park Technical College is in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Clover Park Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Clover Park Technical College 20:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. CPTC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or CPTC? 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 CPTC ($8,294 vs. $10,915).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bellingham Technical College and CPTC ($17,310).
• Clover Park Technical College is 49.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $2,203 more per year; $6,634.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at CPTC than at Bellingham Technical College (about $825 more per year; $6,634.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clover Park Technical College than at Bellingham Technical College (53% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 1.9% larger than aid received by Clover Park Technical College students ($8,030 vs. $7,877).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. CPTC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or CPTC? 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 CPTC 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; CPTC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CPTC Sep 27, 2026.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. CPTC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and CPTC? 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 $6,900 more per year than CPTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Clover Park Technical College graduates have a $3,288 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($11,212 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, CPTC graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($115 vs. $149).
• More Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CPTC students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 31%)

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.