Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Renton Technical College

Comparable Facts

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

Renton Technical College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (2,824 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Renton Technical College is in Renton, WA (Small City setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Renton Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Renton Technical College 19:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Renton Technical College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Renton Technical 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 Renton Technical College ($8,294 vs. $9,656).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bellingham Technical College and Renton Technical College ($17,310).
• Renton Technical College is 42.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $1,877 more per year; $6,308.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 26.9% higher at Renton Technical College than at Bellingham Technical College (about $1,560 more per year; $7,369.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Renton Technical College than at Bellingham Technical College (69% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 6.2% larger than aid received by Renton Technical College students ($8,030 vs. $7,560).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Renton Technical College Admissions comparison

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

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Renton Technical College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and Renton Technical 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 $3,000 more per year than Renton Technical College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $40,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Renton Technical College graduates have a $5,920 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($8,580 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Renton Technical College graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($88 vs. $149).
• More Renton Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 43%)

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.