LCC vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Lower Columbia College in Longview, 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 LCC based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 2,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Lower Columbia College is located in Longview, WA (Small City setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Lower Columbia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Lower Columbia College 15:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

LCC vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LCC 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 Lower Columbia College than Whatcom Community College ($9,950 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lower Columbia College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Whatcom Community College is 10.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than LCC (about $489 more per year; $5,115.00 vs. $4,626.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 83.9% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Lower Columbia College (about $5,034 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $6,003.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lower Columbia College than at Whatcom Community College (76% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Lower Columbia College students is 7.1% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($6,564 vs. $6,129).

LCC vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LCC 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 LCC.

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

LCC vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LCC 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 $3,100 more per year than LCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $3,284 lower median loan debt than LCC graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,784).
• Among borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than LCC graduates ($98 vs. $132).
• More Whatcom Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LCC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 32%)

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.