CPTC vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Clover Park Technical College in Lakewood, 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 CPTC based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 3,408 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Clover Park Technical College is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Clover Park 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: Clover Park Technical College 20:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

CPTC vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CPTC 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 Clover Park Technical College than Whatcom Community College ($10,915 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clover Park Technical College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Clover Park Technical College is 29.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whatcom Community College (about $1,519 more per year; $6,634.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.4% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Clover Park Technical College (about $4,403 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $6,634.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Clover Park Technical College than at Whatcom Community College (53% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Clover Park Technical College students is 28.5% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($7,877 vs. $6,129).

CPTC vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CPTC 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 CPTC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CPTC - Open admission; Whatcom Community College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: CPTC Sep 27, 2026.

CPTC vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CPTC 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 $700 more per year than CPTC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $36,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $1,712 lower median loan debt than CPTC graduates ($9,500 vs. $11,212).
• Among borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CPTC graduates ($98 vs. $115).
• More Whatcom Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CPTC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 31%)

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.