Big Bend Community College vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, 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 Big Bend Community College based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 1,857 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Big Bend Community College is located in Moses Lake, WA (Remote Town setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Big Bend Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Big Bend Community College 17:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

Big Bend Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Big Bend Community College 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 Whatcom Community College than Big Bend Community College ($13,116 vs. $14,474).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Big Bend Community College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Whatcom Community College is 1.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Big Bend Community College (about $56 more per year; $5,115.00 vs. $5,059.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 96.4% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Big Bend Community College (about $5,418 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $5,619.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Big Bend Community College than at Whatcom Community College (77% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Big Bend Community College students is 23.4% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($7,561 vs. $6,129).

Big Bend Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Big Bend Community College 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 Big Bend Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Big Bend Community College - Open admission; Whatcom Community College - Open admission.

Big Bend Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Big Bend Community College 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 Big Bend Community College earn a median of about $700 more per year than Whatcom Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,000 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $1,460 lower median loan debt than Big Bend Community College graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,960).
• Among borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Big Bend Community College graduates ($98 vs. $113).
• More Whatcom Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Big Bend Community College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 36%)

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.