Bellingham, Washington Colleges: Costs & Earnings (2026 stats)
TL;DR
EDsmart Data analysis of 2024 College Scorecard data for Bellingham, Washington shows: median public in-state tuition $4,773 (-13.4% vs national median) median 10-year earnings $62,569 (+15.2% vs U.S.) employment-outcome proxy 90.3% working & not enrolled at 8 years median graduate debt $17,459 (+30.0% vs U.S.) 18,319 students enrolled statewide.
Key Facts
- Institutions in this profile: 5 campuses
- Total college enrollment: 18,319 students
- Median public in-state tuition: $4,773 (-13.4% vs U.S.)
- Median earnings 10 years after entry: $62,569 (+15.2% vs U.S.)
- Working & not enrolled (8-yr cohort proxy): 90.3% (+2.4 pp vs U.S.)
- Median net price: $11,795 (+18.3% vs U.S.)
- Median student debt at graduation: $17,459 (+30.0% vs U.S. $13,432); regional median $11,750
- Average completion rate (institutions in state): 39.0%
- Median first-year retention (full-time, 4-yr): 79.4%
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Overview
EDsmart Data summarizes higher-education outcomes for campuses in Bellingham, Washington—costs, debt, enrollment, completion, earnings, and standout institutions—against Washington and U.S. medians from the College Scorecard.
Bellingham vs Washington & national benchmarks
Medians aggregate institution-level College Scorecard fields unless noted. Enrollment is total undergraduate headcount summed across reporting campuses.
| Geography | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion rate | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, Washington | $4,773 | $11,795 | $17,459 | 39.0% | 18,319 |
| Washington (state median) | $5,356 | $9,863 | $13,653 | 46.4% | 226,333 |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 |
Earnings & employment outcomes: Bellingham, Washington vs benchmarks
Scorecard does not publish formal job-placement rates. We use the share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled (working ÷ working + not working) as a federal employment-outcome proxy. 2-yr and 3-yr default rates are federal cohort default shares (0–1 scale). We show 2-yr default as the primary benchmark; 3-yr default appears only when enough campuses report non-suppressed values (otherwise —). 3-yr repayment progress is the share of completers making progress on loans after 3 years. Sample: bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200. Medians pool campus-level values.
| Geography | Median earnings (10 yr) | Working & not enrolled (8 yr) | Retention (FT yr 1) | 2-yr default | 3-yr default | 3-yr repayment progress | Debt ÷ earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, Washington | $62,569 | 90.3% | 79.4% | 3.0% | — | 79.4% | 0.30 |
| Washington (state median) | $63,538 | 90.2% | 78.3% | 3.2% | — | 80.4% | 0.34 |
| United States | $54,323 | 87.9% | 76.3% | 5.0% | — | 73.7% | 0.41 |
Other cities in Washington (3+ campuses)
Other cities in the same state with at least three reporting campuses.
| City | In-state tuition | Net price | Median debt | Completion | Enrollment | Earnings (10 yr) | Working (8 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham, Washington | $4,773 | $11,795 | $17,459 | 39.0% | 18,319 | $62,569 | 90.3% |
| Seattle | $20,500 | $27,752 | $13,808 | 56.8% | 49,043 | $69,460 | 89.3% |
| Tacoma | $13,168 | $21,126 | $14,615 | 57.7% | 15,943 | $68,292 | 89.7% |
| Spokane | $14,784 | $21,029 | $18,149 | 50.0% | 15,383 | $68,726 | 93.9% |
| Everett | $5,032 | $12,416 | $10,417 | 36.6% | 5,881 | N/A | N/A |
| Vancouver | $8,585 | $11,465 | $10,881 | 39.0% | 5,067 | N/A | N/A |
| Yakima | $5,312 | $14,513 | $13,966 | 29.3% | 3,960 | N/A | N/A |
| Kirkland | $14,652 | $22,288 | $20,891 | 50.0% | 3,456 | $54,914 | 90.6% |
| United States | $5,512 | $9,967 | $13,432 | 50.3% | 14,484,370 | $54,323 | 87.9% |
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by graduation rate (150% time)
Ranked by 150% time completion rate (4-year bachelor's-predominant institutions, enrollment ≥ 500). Higher rate = more students finishing within 150% of normal time.
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Rank 1, Graduation Rate, 64.6%, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by employment outcome (8 yrs after entry, working & not enrolled)
Ranked by share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled — a federal outcome proxy, not a verified job-placement rate. Enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Employment Outcome, 90.3%, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 most selective colleges in Bellingham, Washington (lowest admission rate)
Ranked by lowest admission rate (most selective first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500 and a reported admission rate.
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Rank 1, Admission Rate, 93.2%, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by entry-level earnings (1 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings one year after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; reflects completers in reported CIP programs, not all entrants.
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Rank 1, Entry-Level Earnings, $80,808, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by early-career earnings (4 yr post-completion, program)
Ranked by median program-level earnings four years after completion (highest first). Enrollment ≥ 300; program cohort, not institution-wide median.
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Rank 1, Early-Career Earnings, $110,138, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by mid-career earnings (6 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings six years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, Mid-Career Earnings, $45,272, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by 8-year earnings (8 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings eight years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 8-Yr Earnings, $53,473, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by long-term earnings (10 yrs after entry)
Ranked by median earnings ten years after entry (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr Earnings, $62,569, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by 10-year ROI
Ranked by 10-year return on investment (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant institutions with enrollment ≥ 200 and a computed ROI in the EDsmart dataset.
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Rank 1, 10-Yr ROI, $175,308, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 most affordable colleges in Bellingham, Washington (net price)
Ranked by lowest average net price (most affordable first). Uses overall net price, or mid-income bracket net price for public schools when available. Enrollment ≥ 300.
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Rank 1, Net Price, $21,193, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
Top 10 colleges in Bellingham, Washington by first-year retention (full-time)
Ranked by first-year, full-time retention rate (highest first). Bachelor's-predominant four-year institutions with enrollment ≥ 500.
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Rank 1, First-Year Retention, 79.4%, Western Washington University
Western Washington University
In-state tuition: Bellingham, Washington vs benchmarks
Sticker price
Bellingham, Washington median in-state tuition is $4,773, -13.4% vs the U.S. median.
Student debt: Bellingham, Washington vs benchmarks
Borrowing
Median debt at graduation in Bellingham, Washington is $17,459 (+30.0% vs U.S. median $13,432). Regional median: $11,750.
Median earnings (10 years out): Bellingham, Washington vs benchmarks
Payoff
Median earnings 10 years after entry for bachelor's-predominant campuses in Bellingham, Washington center around $62,569 (+15.2% vs U.S.).
Median institution-level 10-year earnings. Source: College Scorecard.
Employment outcome proxy: Bellingham, Washington vs benchmarks
Working & not enrolled
The share of the 8-year cohort reported as working and not enrolled—our Scorecard employment proxy—is 90.3% at the median Bellingham, Washington campus (+2.4 pp vs U.S.).
Percent of 8-year cohort working and not enrolled (not a formal placement rate).
Analysis & insights
EDsmart Data aggregates institution-level College Scorecard data for this profile. Highlights below compare local medians to U.S. and regional benchmarks.
Costs & borrowing
Bellingham, Washington median public in-state tuition is $4,773, about -13.4% vs the national median. Versus the Far West region, tuition is +45.3%.
Median graduate debt is $17,459 (+30.0% above the U.S. median of $13,432). Low sticker prices do not always mean low borrowing—living costs, time-to-degree, and aid mix matter.
Earnings, employment & retention
Among bachelor's-predominant campuses with ≥200 students, median 10-year earnings in Bellingham, Washington are $62,569, about +15.2% vs the U.S. campus median ($54,323).
The median campus reports 90.3% of its 8-year cohort as working and not enrolled—our closest federal proxy to a placement rate. The U.S. campus median is 87.9% (+2.4 pp). Formal job-placement statistics are not published in Scorecard; treat this as a comparative outcome indicator, not a hire guarantee.
First-year, full-time retention at the median campus is 79.4% vs a U.S. median of 76.3%—a leading indicator for completion and time-to-degree.
Loan repayment indicators at the median campus: 2-yr default 3.0% (U.S. 5.0%); 3-yr repayment progress 79.4% (U.S. 73.7%). 3-yr default is omitted when most campuses report suppressed zeros.
Top employment-outcome campuses in this extract include Western Washington University (90.3%)—useful anchors for local reporting on where graduates are most often working rather than still enrolled.
Completion & workforce context
Average institution-level completion rate across all sectors in Bellingham, Washington is 39.0% (national institution average about 50.3%).
FAQ
How many colleges are in Bellingham?
EDsmart Data analysis: this city profile covers 5 campuses in Bellingham, Washington with College Scorecard cost or outcomes data.
How much does college cost in Bellingham?
EDsmart Data analysis: median in-state tuition in Bellingham is $4,773 and median net price is $11,795. For Washington overall, medians are $5,356 and $9,863; U.S. medians are $5,512 and $9,967.
What do graduates earn in Bellingham?
EDsmart Data analysis: median 10-year earnings for campuses in Bellingham is $62,569 vs $63,538 for Washington and $54,323 nationally.
What is student debt like for Bellingham colleges?
EDsmart Data analysis: median completer debt in Bellingham is $17,459 vs $13,653 for Washington and $13,432 nationally.
What are the best colleges in Bellingham?
EDsmart Data analysis: top campuses on this page include Western Washington University (graduation) and Western Washington University (10-yr earnings). See Top 10 lists for admission, affordability, and employment metrics.
Are there HBCUs, Hispanic-serving, tribal, or religious colleges in Bellingham?
EDsmart Data analysis: among 5 campuses in Bellingham, Washington, 1 tribal college (IPEDS TRIBAL flag), including Northwest Indian College.
Sources & related
- Washington college profile
- All college profiles
- National benchmarks
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard
- Download: JSON