Colleges in Bellingham, Washington
5 colleges and universities — federal Scorecard data.
There are 5 colleges and universities in Bellingham, Washington (4 Public, 1 Private for-profit). The figures below are pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — the same federal dataset colleges are required to report to.
Across all 5 institutions, the median net price after grants and scholarships works out to about $11,795 per year, the median 6-year graduation rate is 39.0%, schools that report admissions data accept a median 93% of applicants.
The median net price in Bellingham runs about $2,354 lower than the Washington statewide median of $14,149.
Whether you're comparing in-state public tuition, looking for a private nonprofit with strong outcomes, or trying to find the right program in Bellingham, the table below lets you sort every institution side-by-side on cost, admissions, graduation rate, and size.
Median net price
$11,795
After aid
Median grad rate
39.0%
6-year
Median admission rate
93%
Median enrollment
1,733
Undergrad
All colleges in Bellingham
Sorted by enrollment.
| School | State | Type | Net price | Grad rate | Admission | Size | Data | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Washington University Bellingham, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $21,193 | 64.6% | 93% | 13,544 | Complete | |
| Whatcom Community College Bellingham, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $11,795 | 36.4% | Not available | 2,378 | Partial | |
| Bellingham Technical College Bellingham, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $5,997 | 41.7% | Not available | 1,733 | Partial | |
| Northwest Indian College Bellingham, WA | WA | Public, 4-year | $3,136 | 18.1% | Not available | 629 | Complete | |
| Zorganics Institute of Beauty and Wellness Bellingham, WA | WA | Private for-profit, <2-year | $20,354 | Not available | Not available | 35 | Partial |
By institution type
Public (4)
Public colleges in Bellingham are state- or locally-funded institutions that typically offer lower in-state tuition and serve a broad mix of residents and commuters.
- Western Washington UniversityNet price: $21,193Grad: 64.6%
- Whatcom Community CollegeNet price: $11,795Grad: 36.4%
- Bellingham Technical CollegeNet price: $5,997Grad: 41.7%
- Northwest Indian CollegeNet price: $3,136Grad: 18.1%
Private for-profit (1)
Private for-profit colleges in Bellingham operate as businesses, generally focused on career-oriented and online programs with rolling admissions.
- Zorganics Institute of Beauty and WellnessNet price: $20,354Grad: Not available
Top programs in Bellingham
Most-completed programs across Bellingham colleges, weighted by enrollment.
- Business11.4% of degrees
- Health professions8.6% of degrees
- Social sciences7.9% of degrees
- Liberal arts7.5% of degrees
- Interdisciplinary7.3% of degrees
- Education6.1% of degrees
- Psychology5.9% of degrees
- Computer science5.4% of degrees
Frequently asked questions about colleges in Bellingham
Q.How many colleges are in Bellingham, Washington?
There are 5 colleges and universities in Bellingham, Washington that report to the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard — 4 Public, 1 Private for-profit.
Q.What is the largest college in Bellingham?
By undergraduate enrollment, Western Washington University is the largest institution in Bellingham with roughly 13,544 undergraduates.
Q.What is the cheapest college in Bellingham?
Based on average net price after aid, Northwest Indian College is the most affordable institution in Bellingham at $3,136 per year.
Q.Which Bellingham college has the highest graduation rate?
Western Washington University reports the highest 6-year graduation rate among Bellingham institutions at 64.6%.
Q.What is the average tuition in Bellingham?
The median net price across all 5 colleges in Bellingham is $11,795 per year after grants and scholarships.
Q.What are the most popular college majors in Bellingham?
Across Bellingham colleges, the most-completed programs by share of degrees awarded are Business, Health professions, Social sciences.
Q.Are there community colleges in Bellingham?
Yes — Bellingham includes 4 public institutions, many of which offer 2-year associate degrees and transfer pathways to 4-year programs.
Other cities in Washington
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS. Medians are computed across institutions in Bellingham that report each metric. Net price, graduation rate, and earnings figures reflect the latest available federal release. Always verify current tuition and program availability directly with each institution.