Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. LCC

Comparable Facts

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

Lower Columbia College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (2,724 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Lower Columbia College is in Longview, WA (Small City setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Lower Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Lower Columbia College 15:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. LCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or LCC? 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 LCC ($8,294 vs. $9,950).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bellingham Technical College and LCC ($17,310).
• Lower Columbia College is 4.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $195 more per year; $4,626.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at LCC than at Bellingham Technical College (about $194 more per year; $6,003.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lower Columbia College than at Bellingham Technical College (76% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 22.3% larger than aid received by Lower Columbia College students ($8,030 vs. $6,564).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. LCC Admissions comparison

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

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. LCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and LCC? 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 $9,300 more per year than LCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Lower Columbia College graduates have a $1,716 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($12,784 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, LCC graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($132 vs. $149).
• More Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LCC 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.