Centralia College vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Centralia College in Centralia, 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 Centralia College based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 2,244 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Centralia College is located in Centralia, WA (Distant Town setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Centralia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Centralia College 16:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

Centralia College vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centralia 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 Centralia College ($13,116 vs. $14,216).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centralia College are 3.8% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,307 vs. $17,982).
• Centralia College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whatcom Community College (about $151 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.3% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Centralia College (about $5,386 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $5,651.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centralia College than at Whatcom Community College (77% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Centralia College students is 1.6% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($6,228 vs. $6,129).

Centralia College vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centralia 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 Centralia College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Centralia College - Open admission; Whatcom Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Centralia College Sep 1, 2026.

Centralia College vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centralia 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 Whatcom Community College earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Centralia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

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.