Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Whatcom Community College is larger than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 2,047 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bellingham Technical College is located in Bellingham, WA (Small City setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bellingham Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bellingham Technical College 24:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute or Whatcom 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 Whatcom Community College ($8,294 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bellingham Technical College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Whatcom Community College is 15.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute (about $684 more per year; $5,115.00 vs. $4,431.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 90% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Bellingham Technical College (about $5,228 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $5,809.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Bellingham Technical College as at Whatcom Community College (52% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bellingham Technical College students is 31% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($8,030 vs. $6,129).

Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

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

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

How do outcomes compare for Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute and Whatcom 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 $6,200 more per year than Whatcom Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($9,500 vs. $14,500).
• Among borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have an estimated $51 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates ($98 vs. $149).
• More Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whatcom Community College 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.