Tacoma Community College vs Whatcom Community College
Tacoma Community College and Whatcom Community College, both esteemed institutions in Washington, offer diverse educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Tacoma Community College, located in the vibrant city of Tacoma, boasts an acceptance rate of 100%, welcoming students from all backgrounds. Whatcom Community College, nestled in the scenic town of Bellingham, offers a slightly more selective admissions process with an acceptance rate of 98%. While Tacoma Community College excels in programs like Business, Engineering, and Healthcare, Whatcom Community College shines in fields such as Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. Both colleges cater to a diverse student body, with Tacoma Community College having a higher percentage of female students and Whatcom Community College having a slightly larger international student population. When it comes to graduation rates, Tacoma Community College holds a slight edge with a 35% completion rate compared to Whatcom Community College's 32%. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table below,
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![]() Tacoma Community College |
![]() Whatcom Community College |
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Overview |
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Location | Tacoma, Washington | Bellingham, Washington |
Campus setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Quarter | Quarter |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | ||
![]() |
No | No |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | Open Admission | Open Admission |
Application fees | ||
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | ||
Total number of admissions given out | ||
Admitted students who chose to enroll | ||
Yield rate | ||
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | Not required | Not required |
High school GPA | N/A | N/A |
Recommendation letters | N/A | N/A |
High school transcript | N/A | N/A |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | N/A | N/A |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price |
In state:
$20,046
Out of state:
$25,508
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In state:
$20,393
Out of state:
$25,997
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Average net price | $8,606 | $9,450 |
Tuition |
In state:
$4,486
Out of state:
$9,948
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In state:
$4,523
Out of state:
$10,127
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Room & board | ||
Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
37.0%
Average amount $5,638 |
59.0%
Average amount $5,510 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
11.0%
Average amount $5,782 |
7.0%
Average amount $5,035 |
Students taking out private loans |
0.0%
Average amount $14,105 |
1.0%
Average amount $12,750 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
5,359
Men 35.1% Women 64.9% |
3,850
Men 42.3% Women 57.7% |
Graduate students | N/A | N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Moderate
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Low
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Out-of-state students | 4.8% | 4.6% |
International students | 2.4% | 6.1% |
Campus local/setting | City: Midsize | City: Small |
Dormitory capacity | N/A | 230 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | N/A | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Washington Alaska California Oregon Texas | Washington Alaska Arizona California Colorado |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 16:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 37.3% | 34.0% |
Dropout rate | 35.0% | 36.3% |
Transferred out | 21.2% | 20.7% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Legal Support Services (Associate's Degrees)
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications (Associate's Degrees)
Human Services, General (Associate's Degrees)
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Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services (Associate's Degrees)
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