Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Tacoma Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Tacoma Community College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (6,199 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Tacoma Community College is in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Tacoma Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Tacoma Community College 17:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Tacoma Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Tacoma Community 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 Tacoma Community College ($8,294 vs. $9,803).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Bellingham Technical College and Tacoma Community College ($17,310).
• Tacoma Community College is 24.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $1,076 more per year; $5,507.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 100.5% higher at Tacoma Community College than at Bellingham Technical College (about $5,837 more per year; $11,646.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Tacoma Community College than at Bellingham Technical College (55% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 9.9% larger than aid received by Tacoma Community College students ($8,030 vs. $7,308).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Tacoma Community College Admissions comparison

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

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Tacoma Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and Tacoma Community 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 $4,500 more per year than Tacoma Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $39,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Tacoma Community College graduates have a $1,732 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($12,768 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Tacoma Community College 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 Tacoma Community College students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 34%)

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.