Whatcom Community College Tuition & Completion (2026)
Whatcom Community College is a public community college in Bellingham, Washington, enrolling about 2,378 students. The college offers associate degrees, career certificates, and transfer pathways to four-year universities. Typical net price after grant aid is about $11,795 for students who receive it, compared with published tuition near $5,115. Student demographics in federal data include White (48.1%) and Race/ethnicity unknown (18.4%) among the largest enrollment groups.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $5,115
- 2024 Average Net Price: $11,795 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: N/A Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,378 55.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 36.39%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
- First-Generation Students: 41.2%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 3.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 38.3% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,186
- Room & Board: $17,982 annual estimate
Whatcom Community College: what the data shows
Common questions about Whatcom Community College, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Whatcom Community College?
Whatcom Community College is located in Bellingham, WA (ZIP 98226).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Whatcom Community College public or private?
Whatcom Community College is a Public institution.
How much does Whatcom Community College cost?
Published tuition: $5,115 in-state, $11,037 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $11,795.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $9,814 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $10,010 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $12,411 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,032 |
| $110,001+ | $19,441 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $20,460.
How big is Whatcom Community College?
Total enrollment: 2,378 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,186 students.
About 55% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Whatcom Community College?
150%-time completion rate: 36.39%.
What do graduates of Whatcom Community College earn?
Median earnings: $38,429 six years after entry; $44,092 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $10,643.
20.57% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Whatcom Community College known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies (417 completions)
- Network and System Administration/Administrator (55 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (55 completions)
- Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide (54 completions)
- Business/Commerce, General (53 completions)
- Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping (43 completions)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (37 completions)
- Physical Therapy Assistant (32 completions)
- Child Development (25 completions)
- Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance (24 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Whatcom Community College a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show completion rate 36.39%; median earnings $44,092 at 10 years; net price $11,795. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$5,115
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Whatcom Community College was $5,115.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$11,795
2024 Value
In 2024 Whatcom Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $11,795.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$47,180 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$11,795 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$20,460 4-Year In-State Tuition
$44,148 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$17,982 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$528 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$23,625 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$94,500 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Whatcom Community College.
Financial Aid by Income Level
20.57% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
5.33% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.40%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Whatcom Community College was 0.40%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Whatcom Community College in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $4,465 | $9,700 | $6,579 |
| 2014 | $4,465 | $9,700 | $6,918 |
| 2015 | $4,311 | $9,727 | $7,379 |
| 2016 | $4,316 | $9,618 | $7,000 |
| 2017 | $4,460 | $9,878 | $6,630 |
| 2018 | $4,551 | $9,980 | $6,802 |
| 2019 | $4,650 | $10,095 | $7,683 |
| 2020 | $4,764 | $10,209 | $6,436 |
| 2021 | $4,868 | $10,472 | $6,590 |
| 2022 | $4,982 | $10,731 | $6,948 |
| 2023 | $5,146 | $11,096 | $9,608 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance rate data is not available for this institution.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Whatcom Community College reported total enrollment of about 2,378 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 43% male and 57% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (48.1%), Race/ethnicity unknown (18.4%), and Hispanic or Latino (16.6%). About 20.57% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 41.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
55.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Whatcom Community College in 2024 is 2,378 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 5,186 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
N/A%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 48.1%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
36.39% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Whatcom Community College completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 39% male / 61% female
- Network and System Administration/Administrator: 93% male / 7% female
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 5% male / 95% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Whatcom Community College.
Return on Investment
$10,643 Median Student Debt
$44,092 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
24.14% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
834.55% Return on Investment
2.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Whatcom Community College.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 28 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies: 417 completions
2. Network and System Administration/Administrator: 55 completions
3. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 55 completions
4. Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide: 54 completions
5. Business/Commerce, General: 53 completions
6. Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping: 43 completions
7. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 37 completions
8. Physical Therapy Assistant: 32 completions
9. Child Development: 25 completions
Most popular programs at Whatcom Community College.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Whatcom Community College graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Whatcom Community College from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,799
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,857
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Whatcom Community College is a public institution located in Bellingham, WA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies, Network and System Administration/Administrator, Early Childhood Education & Teaching. Enrollment is approximately 2,378 students. Student body composition includes White (48.1%), Race/ethnicity unknown (18.4%), Hispanic or Latino (16.6%). The 150%-time completion rate is 36.39%. Approximately 20.57% of students receive Pell Grants. About 41.2% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs
Location
Bellingham, WA 98226
Region: Far West
Insights and Analysis
Graduation Rate Considerations: The 36.39% graduation rate at Whatcom Community College falls below the national average. Prospective students should carefully consider factors such as academic preparation, support services, and career outcomes when evaluating this institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Whatcom Community College located?
Whatcom Community College is located in Bellingham, WA.
How much does Whatcom Community College cost?
Reported tuition is $5,115 and average net price is $11,795 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $17,982 annually.
What is the student body demographics at Whatcom Community College?
Whatcom Community College reports undergraduate enrollment of about 5,186 students, White (48.1%), Race/ethnicity unknown (18.4%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Whatcom Community College?
About 41.2% of students at Whatcom Community College are first-generation college students.
What do graduates of Whatcom Community College earn?
Median earnings are $38,429 six years after entry and $44,092 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Whatcom Community College?
The 150%-time completion rate is 36.4% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Whatcom Community College students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $10,643.
Is Whatcom Community College public or private?
Whatcom Community College is a public institution located in Bellingham, WA.
Is Whatcom Community College an HBCU?
No. Whatcom Community College is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Whatcom Community College a tribal college?
No. Whatcom Community College is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Whatcom Community College a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Whatcom Community College does not meet that proxy (reported share 16.6%).
Is Whatcom Community College religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Whatcom Community College in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
- Washington college profile
- Washington college costs
- Washington colleges by ROI
- Washington trade schools profile
- Bellingham, Washington city profile
- Far West regional profile
- Town college profile
- Campus-setting profiles
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Washington
- Washington college costs
- Washington colleges by ROI
- Washington trade schools profile
- Bellingham, Washington city profile
- Far West regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Washington
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.