Bates Technical College vs. Whatcom Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bates Technical College in Tacoma, WA with Whatcom Community College in Bellingham, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Bates Technical College is larger than Whatcom Community College based on total student enrollment (4,083 students vs. 3,674 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bates Technical College is located in Tacoma, WA (Midsize City setting); Whatcom Community College is in Bellingham, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Bates Technical College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Whatcom Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bates Technical College 21:1; Whatcom Community College 11:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bates Technical College are 3.7% lower than at Whatcom Community College ($17,310 vs. $17,982).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.2% higher at Bates Technical College than at Whatcom Community College (about $1,128 more per year; $12,165 vs. $11,037).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Whatcom Community College than at Bates Technical College (52% vs. 33%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bates Technical College students is 71% larger than aid received by Whatcom Community College students ($10,479 vs. $6,129).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are open admission at both Bates Technical College and Whatcom Community College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bates Technical College graduates have a $3,605 lower median loan debt than Whatcom Community College graduates ($5,895 vs. $9,500).
• Among borrowers, Bates Technical College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Whatcom Community College graduates ($60 vs. $98).
• More Bates Technical College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Whatcom Community College students, three years after graduation (42% vs. 39%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.