Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Pierce College District

Comparable Facts

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

Pierce College District is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Pierce College District is in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Pierce College District 13:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Pierce College District Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Pierce College District? 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 Pierce College District ($8,294 vs. $11,340).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bellingham Technical College are 3.7% lower than at Pierce College District ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Pierce College District is 22.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $987 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.9% higher at Pierce College District than at Bellingham Technical College (about $167 more per year; $5,976.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bellingham Technical College than at Pierce College District (52% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 18.3% larger than aid received by Pierce College District students ($8,030 vs. $6,785).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Pierce College District Admissions comparison

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

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Pierce College District Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and Pierce College District? 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 $5,200 more per year than Pierce College District graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $38,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have a $4,090 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($10,410 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Pierce College District graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($107 vs. $149).
• More Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pierce College District students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 39%)

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.