Whatcom Community College vs. Cascadia College

Comparable Facts

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

Whatcom Community College is larger than Cascadia College based on total student enrollment (3,674 students vs. 2,380 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Whatcom Community College vs. Cascadia College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Whatcom Community College or Cascadia 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 Whatcom Community College than Cascadia College ($13,116 vs. $13,782).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cascadia College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Cascadia College is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Whatcom Community College (about $42 more per year; $5,157.00 vs. $5,115.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Cascadia College than at Whatcom Community College (about $259 more per year; $11,296.00 vs. $11,037.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Whatcom Community College than at Cascadia College (52% vs. 36%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Cascadia College students is 38.8% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($8,505 vs. $6,129).

Whatcom Community College vs. Cascadia College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Whatcom Community College or Cascadia 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 Cascadia College and Whatcom Community College.

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

Whatcom Community College vs. Cascadia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Whatcom Community College and Cascadia 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 Cascadia College earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than Whatcom Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $37,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cascadia College graduates have a $908 lower median loan debt than Whatcom Community College graduates ($8,592 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Cascadia College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whatcom Community College graduates ($88 vs. $98).
• More Cascadia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whatcom Community College students, three years after graduation. (48% 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.