Bellingham Technical College
Bellingham Technical College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Bellingham Technical College at a Glance
Bellingham Technical College is a public technical college in Bellingham, Washington. Although it awards some bachelor's degrees, it primarily awards associate degrees.
1957
69 years old
$26M
$26,200,000
2,200
172
32 acres
Is Bellingham Technical College Worth It?
Bellingham Technical College is one of the strongest value propositions in higher education. At $5,997/year net price and $49,748 median earnings, graduates earn 8.3× their annual cost within a decade of enrolling.
The investment pays for itself in just 0.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 44% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 4 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
Bottom line: Bellingham Technical College delivers strong financial returns that justify the investment for most students.
How Bellingham Technical College compares to peer public colleges of similar tier in WA
Ranked #7 of 145 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chipola College | 100 | $1,133 | $37,378 |
| #2 | South Florida State College | 100 | $3,877 | $39,990 |
| #3 | Indiana University-Kokomo | 100 | $3,968 | $49,917 |
| #4 | Brazosport College | 100 | $4,732 | $45,910 |
| #5 | New College of Florida | 100 | $7,195 | $48,082 |
| #6 | Florida Gateway College | 97 | $5,364 | $37,894 |
| #7 | Bellingham Technical College | 92 | $5,997 | $49,748 |
Peer group: public colleges within ±60% of Bellingham Technical College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 16 in WA.
Best Programs at Bellingham Technical College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Bellingham Technical College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $5,997/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in WA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- public
- Location
- Bellingham, WA
- Student Body
- 1,733 students
- Graduation Rate
- 44%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $5,997
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $49,748
- Median Student Debt
- $17,459