Bellingham Technical College

3028 Lindbergh Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
Top Ranked (2024): View Rankings
  • Preparing an educated workforce is central to the mission of Bellingham Technical College. Today's workforce requires complex technical competencies as well as academic skills, positive work attitudes and habits, effective human relations, leadership, problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork skills.

School Highlights

Bellingham Technical College serves 1,848 students (61% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 8:1 is lower than the state community college average of 11:1.
Minority enrollment is 30% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 50%.

Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 1,848 students
  • In-state tuition: $3,518
  • Out-state tuition: $8,708
  • Student:teacher ratio: 8:1
  • Minority enrollment: 30%
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Bellingham Technical College ranks among the top 20% of public schools in Washington for:

School Overview

The teacher population of 233 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Bellingham Technical College
(WA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associates Colleges
Associates Colleges
Institution Level
Four or more years
Four or more years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
233 staff
353 staff
This chart display total faculty of Bellingham Technical College and community college average number of faculty in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Bellingham Technical College has declined by 20% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 8:1 has decreased from 10:1 over five years.
The Bellingham Technical College diversity score of 0.49 is less than the state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has declined by 16% over five years.
Total Enrollment
1,848 students
4,003 students
This chart display the total enrollment of Bellingham Technical College and community college average number of enrollment of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
8:1
11:1
This chart display the student staff ratio of Bellingham Technical College and community college average student staff ratio of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
1,127 students
2,116 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Bellingham Technical College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
721 students
1,887 students
This chart display the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Bellingham Technical College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
This chart display the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Bellingham Technical College.
This chart display community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of WA.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
176 students
384 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,127 students
2,116 students
This chart display the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Bellingham Technical College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
11 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
721 students
1,887 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
140 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
1%
1%
This chart display the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Bellingham Technical College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Asian
4%
8%
This chart display the percentage of Asian students in Bellingham Technical College and the percentage of Asian community college students in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hispanic
9%
14%
This chart display the percentage of Hispanic students in Bellingham Technical College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Black
1%
5%
This chart display the percentage of Black students in Bellingham Technical College and the percentage of Black community college students in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% White
70%
50%
This chart display the percentage of White students in Bellingham Technical College and the percentage of White community college students in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
% Two or more races
5%
8%
This chart display the percentage of Two or more races students in Bellingham Technical College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Non Resident races
n/a
6%
% Unknown races
9%
7%
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Bellingham Technical College.
This chart display the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in WA.
Diversity Score
0.49
0.71
This chart display the diversity score of Bellingham Technical College and the community college average diversity score of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
55%
30%
This chart display completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Bellingham Technical College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of WA by year, with the latest 2014-15 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
0.39%
2.2%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$41,500
$36,400
This chart display average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Bellingham Technical College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of WA by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $3,518 is less than the state average of $4,105. The in-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $8,708 is more than the state average of $7,359. The out-state tuition has stayed relatively flat over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$3,518
$4,105
This chart display tuition fees for an in-state student of Bellingham Technical College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$8,708
$7,359
This chart display tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Bellingham Technical College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
62%
67%
This chart display the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Bellingham Technical College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$18,732
$11,794
This chart display median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Bellingham Technical College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$9,167
$6,292
This chart display median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Bellingham Technical College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in WA by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
100%
Source: 2021 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) , School Administrators

School Notes

  • The role and mission of Bellingham Technical College has its roots in vocational education in the Bellingham School District (BSD). The first 'Industrial School' was planned and constructed in 1911 by the BSD. This school evolved into a manual-training section of Whatcom High School. With the passage of the Smith-Hughes Act in 1917, courses in automotive mechanics and machine shop were offered at Fairhaven High School. Planning for the present program began in 1952 when it was realized that vocational programs offered by the local school district were not meeting the needs of the community. As a result of assessments of community vocational education needs by advisory committees from labor and management, Bellingham Vocational Technical Institute was established on its present 21-acre site at 3028 Lindbergh Avenue in 1957. The college offers Degree/Certificate programs and courses in Business, Computer Technology and Management, Culinary Arts, Engineering, Manufacturing & Industrial Technology, Fisheries & Aquaculture, Transportation & Mechanical and Health Sciences & Human Services. The degree & certificate programs at Bellingham Technical College rely on the involvement and support of over 300 business and industry employers and employees from the community. Bellingham Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. The Commission is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education. Bellingham Technical College is located in the scenic Pacific Northwest, about 90 miles north of Seattle, 60 miles south of Vancouver, BC and just a mile northwest of downtown Bellingham.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Bellingham Technical College cost?
Bellingham Technical College's tuition is approximately $3,518 for In-State students and $8,708 for Out-State students.
What is Bellingham Technical College's ranking?
Bellingham Technical College ranks among the top 20% of community college in Washington for: Highest graduate earnings (10 years post graduation) and Highest completion rates.

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Quick Stats (2024)

  • Enrollment: 1,848 students
  • In-state tuition: $3,518
  • Out-state tuition: $8,708
  • Student:teacher ratio: 8:1
  • Minority enrollment: 30%
  • Source: Verified school update

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Washington public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $4,105 per year for in-state students and $7,359 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $19,532 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

Washington community colleges have a diversity score of 0.71, which is higher than the national average of 0.70. The most diverse community college in Washington is Highline College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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