Whatcom Community College
- Whatcom Community College is a regionally and nationally accredited two-year college with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve nearly 11,000 students annually. On its 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Wash., and through online courses, Whatcom offers transfer degrees, professional-technical training programs, as well as basic education, job skills, and Community & Continuing Education classes. According to the Aspen Institute (2016), WCC is rated among the top nine community and technical colleges in the state and recognized as one of the leading community colleges in the nation. Established in 1967, Whatcom has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1976.
School Highlights
- Whatcom Community College serves 10,993 students (36% of students are full-time).
- The college's student:teacher ratio of 34:1 is higher than the state community college average of 31:1.
- Minority enrollment is 34% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the state average of 41%.
- Whatcom Community College is one of 2 community colleges within Whatcom County, WA.
- The nearest community college to Whatcom Community College is Bellingham Technical College (2.1 miles away).
Top Placements
Whatcom Community College places among the top 20% of community colleges in Washington for:
- Category Attribute
- Community Size Largest student body
School Overview
- The teacher population of 322 teachers has grown by 38% over five years.
| Whatcom Community College | (WA) Community College Avg. | |
| Carnegie Classification | Associate of Arts Colleges | Baccalaureate / Associates Colleges |
| Institution Level | Less than 2 yrs | Four or more years |
| Institution Control | Public | Public |
| Total Faculty | 322 staff | 145 staff |
| Total Enrollment | 10,993 students | 4,463 students |
 | ||
| Student : Teacher Ratio | 34:1 | 31:1 |
| # Full-Time Students | 3,999 students | 2,353 students |
| # Part-Time Students | 6,994 students | 2,110 students |
 |  | |
| % American Indian/Alaskan | 1% | 1% |
| % Asian | 4% | 7% |
| % Hispanic | 8% | 10% |
| % Black | 1% | 4% |
| % White | 66% | 59% |
| % Two or more races | 6% | 5% |
| % Non Resident races | 5% | 6% |
| % Unknown races | 9% | 7% |
 |  | |
| Diversity Score | 0.54 | 0.62 |
 | ||
| College Completion Rate | 31% | 31% |
| Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years) | $36,200 | $36,200 |
Sports
| Total Sports Offered | 3 sports |
| Sports | Basketball, Soccer, VolleyballBasketball, Soccer, Volleyball |
Extracurriculars
| Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric. | 4 extracurriculars |
| ExtracurricularsExtra-curric. | Club or Organization: Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Student clubs and activities Arts and Music Programs: Choir and drama programs Recreational Athletic Programs: Clubs and intramural sports teams |
Source: 2016 (or latest year available) IPEDS
School Notes
- Whatcom Community College is a regionally and nationally accredited two-year college with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve nearly 11,000 students annually. On its 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Wash., and through online courses, Whatcom offers transfer degrees, professional-technical training programs, as well as basic education, job skills, and Community & Continuing Education classes. According to the Aspen Institute (2016), WCC is rated among the top nine community and technical colleges in the state and recognized as one of the leading community colleges in the nation. Established in 1967, Whatcom has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1976.
Nearby Schools
- The nearest community college to Whatcom Community College is Bellingham Technical College (2.1 miles away).
- College Location Mi. Students
- 2,301 students | 2.10 Mi3028 Lindbergh Ave
Bellingham, WA 98225
(360)752-7000 2.102,301 - Skagit Valley CollegePublic4,993 students | 26.00 Mi2405 E. College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360)416-7600 26.004,993 - 8,139 students | 56.00 Mi2000 Tower Street
Everett, WA 98201
(425)388-9100 56.008,139 - Everest College-EverettPrivate, for profit410 students | 62.40 Mi906 SE Everett Mall Way, Ste 600
Everett, WA 98208
(425)789-7960 62.40410 - Peninsula CollegePublic2,342 students | 63.80 Mi1502 E Lauridsen Blvd
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360)452-9277 63.802,342
Recent Articles
We look at why millions of Americans are choosing community college over a traditional four-year school today.
Many students enroll in community college with the intent of transferring to a four-year school. Of those who do, many succeed, and yet traditional colleges and universities continue to overlook them. Read on to learn more about why more community college students don’t transfer schools and to receive some tips for making the transfer yourself.
Community college is the only option for many students who either can’t afford a traditional four-year university or who need a more flexible school environment. Just because community college is different, however, doesn’t mean that its students matter any less. The Aspen Prize exists to encourage community colleges to do more for their students and to continually strive for improvement.
