Bellingham Technical College
#2 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 44% D+
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $49,748 B-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $5,997 A
- 65% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,733
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 49.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $49.0 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Most Affordable Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $49.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,150,588.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Earnings 22% above the national college median.
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Graduation of 44% — 22% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $49.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
About Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham Technical College is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,733
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Precision Production, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Bellingham Technical College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $5,997 a year after grants and scholarships — 65% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $49,748 ten years after enrolling — 22% above the typical college, against $17,459 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.2% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 66% nationally for mobility. High social capital (0.95 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With around 1,733 students, Bellingham Technical College is a great fit for those looking to gain practical skills and enter the workforce quickly. The programs here focus on hands-on training, particularly in areas like Health Professions, Mechanic & Repair Tech, and Computer Science & IT. That emphasis on applied learning is what makes this college stand out for students eager to start their careers without spending years in traditional academic settings.
After graduation, students can expect to earn about $49,748 on average within ten years. This earning potential reflects the college's strong alignment with local industry needs, particularly in vocational fields. With a net price of $5,997 after aid, attending Bellingham Technical College is accessible for many, especially considering that about 31% of students receive Pell Grants, which can further ease the financial burden.
When we look at the practical aspects of attending Bellingham Technical College, the median debt sits at $17,459, which is manageable for many graduates. The affordability and focused training make it an appealing option for those who thrive in a more hands-on learning environment. If you’re someone who values practical skills and wants to enter the workforce in a specific field quickly, this college might just be the right place for you.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Bellingham Technical College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bellingham Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bellingham, Washington, Bellingham Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,210
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 22:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.66
- First-Gen Students
- 41%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bellingham Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bellingham Technical College is $5,809, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,997. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,587 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,459 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,431
- Out-of-State
- $5,809
- Avg Net Price
- $5,997
- Median Debt
- $17,459
- Pell Grant Rate
- 31%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 8%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $4,587
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $6,826
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,510
- Family Income $110K+
- $15,444
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Bellingham Technical College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Bellingham Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bellingham Technical College earn a median of $49,748, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $43,235
- 8 Years
- $46,084
- 10 Years
- $49,748
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.35x
- Earning > $25K
- 68%
Earnings Trajectory
How Bellingham Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Bellingham Technical College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Bellingham Technical College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $5,997/year ($23,988 total). Graduates earn $49,748 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,174,576 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,150,588 (49.0× your investment). The median debt is $17,459, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 44% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $23,988
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,174,576
- Net Return
- $1,150,588
- ROI Multiple
- 49.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $5,997
- Median Debt
- $17,459
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Bellingham Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bellingham Technical College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.18%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.18%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 9.5%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 12.4%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $86,818
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $3,975,180
- Federal Grants
- $954,031
- Investment Income
- $25,241
Top Programs
The fields Bellingham Technical College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 31% $74,862 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 13% $138,637 early-career
- Precision Production 10% $43,782 early-career
- Business & Marketing 10%
- Computer Science & IT 8% $44,210 early-career
- Construction Trades 6% $33,871 early-career
- Culinary & Personal Services 2% $37,845 early-career
- Humanities 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Bellingham Technical College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Bellingham Technical College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bellingham, Washington, Bellingham Technical College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 44%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Bellingham Technical College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Bellingham Technical College is $5,809, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $5,997. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $4,587 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $17,459 in federal student loans.
Is Bellingham Technical College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Bellingham Technical College earn a median of $49,748, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Bellingham Technical College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Bellingham Technical College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.18%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 12.4% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 9.5% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $63,900, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Bellingham Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Bellingham Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Bellingham Technical College.
- Bates Technical CollegeTacoma, WA · Close peer43% grad $50,051 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Renton Technical CollegeRenton, WA · Close peer50% grad $49,782 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Lake Washington Institute of TechnologyKirkland, WA · Close peer38% grad $50,669 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- South Seattle CollegeSeattle, WA · Close peer29% grad $44,486 earnWhy: similar size · similar net price · same state
- University of Wisconsin-SuperiorSuperior, WI · Close peer43% grad $49,606 earn 93% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indiana University-KokomoKokomo, IN · Close peer45% grad $49,917 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Bellingham Technical College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs around the national average at Bellingham Technical College. Its economic connectedness score is 0.95, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note