Whatcom Community College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Bellingham, Washington. It enrolls 2,378 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes49
Value59
Affordability36
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Whatcom Community College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Whatcom Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $11,795 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$11,795
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
21%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
5%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,115
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$11,037
Room & Board (on-campus)
$17,982
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,310
Books & Supplies
$528
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,624
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,746
Total Cost of Attendance
$19,672
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$9,814
$30,001 – $48,000
$10,010
$48,001 – $75,000
$12,411
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,032
Over $110,000
$19,441
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75010%percentile
$3,37525%percentile
$10,643Medianpercentile
$12,36875%percentile
$20,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $1,143
No Pell $6,337
↓ $4,306
Dependent students $5,500
↓ $5,143
Independent students $9,500
↓ $1,143
Female students $8,550
↓ $2,093
Male students $7,000
↓ $3,643
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,334, less than completers ($10,643), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
28% of full-time students who enrolled at Whatcom Community College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
28%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Whatcom Community College earn a median of $44,092 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,092
Earning > $25K
68%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$32,600
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$46,500
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$35,700
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$45,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$36,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,900, about 30% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
26.6 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 78% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Whatcom Community College is home to 2,378 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 41% are first-generation college students, 45% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
2,378
Part-Time
45%
First-Generation
41%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 48.1%1,143
Hispanic 16.6%395
Other 8.3%197
Asian 5.9%140
Black 1.8%42
International 1.0%24
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Whatcom Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Small CityBellingham, Washington
Housing
Limited on-campus housing230 beds
Adult Learners
27%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Whatcom Community College offers
a varied set of programs:
39 distinct programs across
12 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Whatcom Community College is 12:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
12:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$10,481
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$9.3M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,487
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
89 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
89
100%
$91,487
Pros & Cons of Whatcom Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Whatcom Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Whatcom Community College is a fit for
working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Whatcom Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Whatcom Community College.
How much does Whatcom Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Whatcom Community College is $11,795 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Whatcom Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,092 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $11,795 per year. That's roughly 3.7x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Whatcom Community College known for?
Whatcom Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Business, Medical Assisting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Whatcom Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Whatcom Community College are $44,092, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Whatcom Community College accredited?
Yes. Whatcom Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Whatcom Community College?
Whatcom Community College enrolls 2,378 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Whatcom Community College?
Whatcom Community College graduates 28% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Whatcom Community College a public or private college?
Whatcom Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Whatcom Community College located?
Whatcom Community College is located in Bellingham, Washington.
What programs does Whatcom Community College offer?
Whatcom Community College offers 39 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Business, Medical Assisting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Whatcom Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Whatcom Community College is 12:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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