South Puget Sound Community College vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

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

South Puget Sound Community College is larger than Whatcom Community College based on total student enrollment (4,871 students vs. 3,674 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• South Puget Sound Community College is located in Olympia, WA (Small City setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• South Puget Sound 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: South Puget Sound Community College 17:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

South Puget Sound Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, South Puget Sound 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 South Puget Sound Community College than Whatcom Community College ($12,399 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at South Puget Sound Community College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• South Puget Sound Community College is 2.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whatcom Community College (about $137 more per year; $5,252.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 89.9% higher at Whatcom Community College than at South Puget Sound Community College (about $5,224 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $5,813.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at South Puget Sound Community College than at Whatcom Community College (63% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by South Puget Sound Community College students is 5.5% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($6,465 vs. $6,129).

South Puget Sound Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, South Puget Sound 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 South Puget Sound Community College.

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

South Puget Sound Community College vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for South Puget Sound 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 Whatcom Community College earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than South Puget Sound Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $35,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Whatcom Community College graduates ($8,000 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, South Puget Sound Community College graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whatcom Community College graduates ($82 vs. $98).
• More Whatcom Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former South Puget Sound Community College students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 38%)

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.