Shoreline Community College vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

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

Shoreline Community College is larger than Whatcom Community College based on total student enrollment (4,477 students vs. 3,674 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Shoreline Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community College than Whatcom Community College ($10,535 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shoreline Community College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Shoreline Community College and Whatcom Community College have the same published in-state tuition ($5,115.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.6% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Shoreline Community College (about $3,132 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $7,905.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shoreline Community College than at Whatcom Community College (59% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Whatcom Community College students is 2.5% larger than aid received by Shoreline Community College students ($6,129 vs. $5,981).

Shoreline Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community College.

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

Shoreline Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Shoreline Community 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 Shoreline Community College earn a median of about $5,800 more per year than Whatcom Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,100 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $2,500 lower median loan debt than Shoreline Community College graduates ($9,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have an estimated $26 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Shoreline Community College graduates ($98 vs. $124).
• More Shoreline Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whatcom Community College students, three years after graduation. (47% 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.