Whatcom Community College
A good fit for families looking for lower cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 40%. a public school with 2,378 students.
About This School
Whatcom Community College is a public institution located in Bellingham, Washington with approximately 2,378 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $11,795 per year. The graduation rate is 36%, and the typical graduate earns $38,400 within 10 years of enrollment.
Whatcom Community College is a public community college in Bellingham, Washington, United States, in Whatcom County. Established in 1967, Whatcom has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1976.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: at just $9,608/year net price and a low median debt of $8,000 at graduation, this is one of the more affordable paths into higher education in Washington state. However, the 36% graduation rate is a real concern — most students who start here don't finish, so you'll want to be honest with yourself about your support system and commitment before enrolling. If you're considering transferring to a four-year school or need a low-cost stepping stone, this can work well, but go in with a clear plan.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 14% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Whatcom Community College graduates earn most above the national rate in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($51,485 vs $42,269 nationally), and most below it in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($39,888 vs $44,125).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 383 | $39,888 | $44,125 | −$4,237 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 53 | $51,485 | $42,269 | +$9,216 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 33 | $88,410 | $80,813 | +$7,597 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,378 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Whatcom Community College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Whatcom Community College cost?
The average net price at Whatcom Community College is about $11,795 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Whatcom Community College?
Whatcom Community College has a graduation rate of 36%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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