GHC vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, 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 GHC based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 1,577 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Grays Harbor College is located in Aberdeen, WA (Rural Fringe setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Grays Harbor College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Grays Harbor College 14:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

GHC vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GHC 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 Grays Harbor College than Whatcom Community College ($9,640 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grays Harbor College are 27.9% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($12,966 vs. $17,982).
• Grays Harbor College is 9.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whatcom Community College (about $478 more per year; $5,593.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 13.7% higher at GHC than at Whatcom Community College (about $1,516 more per year; $12,553.00 vs. $11,037.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Grays Harbor College than at Whatcom Community College (94% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Grays Harbor College students is 17.9% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($7,224 vs. $6,129).

GHC vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GHC 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 GHC.

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

GHC vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for GHC 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 $4,800 more per year than GHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $60 lower median loan debt than GHC graduates ($9,500 vs. $9,560).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Whatcom Community College and GHC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($98 vs. $98).
• More Whatcom Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GHC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 27%)

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.