Pierce College District vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Pierce College District in Lakewood, WA with Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pierce College District is larger than Whatcom Community College based on total student enrollment (8,137 students vs. 3,674 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pierce College District is located in Lakewood, WA (Large Suburban setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Pierce College District is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pierce College District 13:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

Pierce College District vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pierce College District 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 Pierce College District than Whatcom Community College ($11,340 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) are the same at Pierce College District and Whatcom Community College ($17,982).
• Pierce College District is 5.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whatcom Community College (about $303 more per year; $5,418.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 84.7% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Pierce College District (about $5,061 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $5,976.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Whatcom Community College than at Pierce College District (52% vs. 51%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pierce College District students is 10.7% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($6,785 vs. $6,129).

Pierce College District vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pierce College District 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 Pierce College District.

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

Pierce College District vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pierce College District 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 Pierce College District earn a median of about $1,000 more per year than Whatcom Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,300 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $910 lower median loan debt than Pierce College District graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,410).
• Among borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pierce College District graduates ($98 vs. $107).
• More Pierce College District graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whatcom Community College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 39%)

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.