Whatcom Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 36% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,092 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $11,795 B-
- 31% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 2,378
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 22.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $22.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $22.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $989,860.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 36% — 36% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $22.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Whatcom Community College Matters
Whatcom Community College is a public community college in Bellingham, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 2,378
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Whatcom Community 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 $11,795 a year after grants and scholarships — 31% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,092 ten years after enrolling — 8% above the typical college, against $10,643 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.5% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 48% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.23 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Whatcom Community College is an ideal choice for students seeking a practical, community-focused education. With around 2,378 enrolled students, it offers a supportive environment where individuals can thrive in top programs like Humanities, Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT, and Education. What stands out is the college's emphasis on accessible learning, making it a good fit for those looking to gain skills that directly translate into the workforce.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for graduates 10 years post-degree is $44,092. This figure provides a clear indication of the potential return on investment for students. With a graduation rate of 36%, it's essential to note that while not every student may complete their program, those who do can expect meaningful opportunities in various fields. The affordability factor is also significant, as the net price after financial aid stands at $11,795, making it a solid option for students mindful of their budget.
The financial landscape for students at Whatcom is manageable, with a median debt of $10,643 after graduation. This lower debt load can be a significant advantage, allowing graduates to enter the workforce with less financial pressure. The college attracts individuals who are focused on practical skills and career readiness. It's a place where students can cultivate their interests, gain valuable experience, and step confidently into their futures.
Rankings
- #14 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #14 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #17 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
- #17 Best Data Science Colleges in Washington
- #19 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #20 Best Colleges in Washington
- #20 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #21 Best Master's Programs in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Whatcom Community 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 Whatcom Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bellingham, Washington, Whatcom Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 100%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,799
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.73
- 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 Whatcom Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Whatcom Community College is $11,037, 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 $11,795. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,814 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,643 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,115
- Out-of-State
- $11,037
- Avg Net Price
- $11,795
- Median Debt
- $10,643
- Pell Grant Rate
- 21%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 5%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $9,814
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $10,010
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,411
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,441
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 Whatcom Community 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 Whatcom Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Whatcom Community College report median earnings of $44,092, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,429
- 8 Years
- $41,372
- 10 Years
- $44,092
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.24x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
How Whatcom 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 Whatcom Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Whatcom Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $11,795/year ($47,180 total). Graduates earn $44,092 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,037,040 in total earnings — a net gain of $989,860 (22.0× your investment). The median debt is $10,643, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 36% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $47,180
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,037,040
- Net Return
- $989,860
- ROI Multiple
- 22.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $11,795
- Median Debt
- $10,643
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 36%
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 Whatcom Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Whatcom Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.51%, well above the typical college. About 9.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.51%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 9.2%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $106,518
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $8,658,076
- Federal Grants
- $4,494,491
- Investment Income
- $61,217
Top Programs
The fields Whatcom Community 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.
- Humanities 43%
- Health Professions 17% $72,503 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16% $32,668 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 8%
- Education 6%
- Engineering 2%
- Physical Sciences 1%
- Legal Studies 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 Whatcom Community 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
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Whatcom Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Bellingham, Washington, Whatcom Community College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 36%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Whatcom Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Whatcom Community College is $11,037, 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 $11,795. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $9,814 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $10,643 in federal student loans.
Is Whatcom Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Whatcom Community College report median earnings of $44,092, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Whatcom Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Whatcom Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.51%, well above the typical college. About 9.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 16.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $78,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Whatcom Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Whatcom Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.23, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Whatcom Community College.
- Yakima Valley CollegeYakima, WA · Close peer31% grad $43,499 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Missouri Western State UniversitySaint Joseph, MO · Close peer39% grad $42,647 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kent State University at StarkNorth Canton, OH · Close peer37% grad $45,388 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Francis Marion UniversityFlorence, SC · Close peer43% grad $43,888 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Maryland Eastern ShorePrincess Anne, MD · Close peer35% grad $47,697 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Walla Walla Community CollegeWalla Walla, WA · Close peer43% grad $43,526 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Whatcom Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Whatcom Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.23, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note