Bates Technical College

Bates Technical College, situated in Tacoma, Washington, operates across three campuses in the South Puget Sound region. Established in 1940 as a vocational school within Tacoma Public Schools, Bates became an independent technical college in 1991 and now serves as a public two-year institution focused on career education and workforce training. The college maintains its Central/Mohler Campus in downtown Tacoma, the South Campus in south Tacoma, and the Downtown Campus near the city's business district. Bates offers more than 50 career education programs, with particular emphasis on healthcare, manufacturing, digital media, and skilled trades, while also providing adult basic education and high school completion programs. The institution operates on a quarterly academic calendar and follows an open admission policy, allowing students to enroll throughout the year in most programs.