WVC vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Wenatchee Valley College in Wenatchee, 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 WVC based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 3,067 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

WVC vs. Whatcom Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WVC 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 Wenatchee Valley College than Whatcom Community College ($11,103 vs. $13,116).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wenatchee Valley College are 41.8% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($10,458 vs. $17,982).
• Wenatchee Valley College is 3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whatcom Community College (about $152 more per year; $5,267.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 95.8% higher at Whatcom Community College than at Wenatchee Valley College (about $5,401 more per year; $11,037.00 vs. $5,636.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wenatchee Valley College than at Whatcom Community College (77% vs. 52%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wenatchee Valley College students is 47.3% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($9,031 vs. $6,129).

WVC vs. Whatcom Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WVC 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 WVC.

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

WVC vs. Whatcom Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WVC 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 $900 more per year than WVC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,300 vs. $36,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have a $1,205 lower median loan debt than WVC graduates ($9,500 vs. $10,705).
• Among borrowers, Whatcom Community College graduates have an estimated $12 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than WVC graduates ($98 vs. $110).
• More Whatcom Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WVC students, three years after graduation. (39% vs. 37%)

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.