Whatcom Community College vs Olympic College

When it comes to choosing the right community college, Whatcom Community College and Olympic College stand out as two excellent options in Washington State. With acceptance rates of 100% and 99%, respectively, both institutions welcome students from all backgrounds. While Whatcom boasts a larger student body, Olympic offers a more diverse student population. Both colleges offer a wide range of programs, with popular majors including Business, Health Sciences, and Liberal Arts. However, Whatcom excels in Engineering and Industrial Technologies, while Olympic shines in Culinary Arts and Hospitality. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table that delves into key aspects such as tuition, graduation rates, and available student services. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic goals and personal preferences.
Olympic College logo

Olympic College

Whatcom Community College logo

Whatcom Community College

Overview

Location Bremerton, Washington Bellingham, Washington
Campus setting City: Small City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Quarter Quarter
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

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

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $19,945

Out of state: $25,483
In state: $20,393

Out of state: $25,997
Average net price $11,477 $9,450
Tuition
In state: $3,825

Out of state: $9,363
In state: $4,523

Out of state: $10,127
Room & board
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

36.0%
Average amount $4,409
59.0%
Average amount $5,510
Students receiving federal student loan 1.0%
Average amount $5,396
7.0%
Average amount $5,035
Students taking out private loans 0.0%
Average amount $3,857
1.0%
Average amount $12,750

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,999
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
3,850
Men 42.3% Women 57.7%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Low
Out-of-state students 4.8% 4.6%
International students 0.8% 6.1%
Campus local/setting City: Small City: Small
Dormitory capacity 88 230
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Washington California Oregon Idaho Utah Washington Alaska Arizona California Colorado

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Engineering Technologies
  • Liberal Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
  • Liberal Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Education
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Outcome

Graduation rate 31.5% 34.0%
Dropout rate 42.8% 36.3%
Transferred out 16.0% 20.7%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $70,594
  • Year 2: $64,706
  • Year 3: $79,131
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,747
  • Year 2: $61,651
  • Year 3: $66,760
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,110
  • Year 2: $34,704
  • Year 3: $36,136
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $28,960
  • Year 3: $28,093
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $27,132
  • Year 2: $22,572
  • Year 3: $27,784
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $22,771
  • Year 3: $27,294
Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,029
  • Year 2: $36,668
  • Year 3: $20,997
Industrial Production Technologies/Technicians (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $54,435
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,854
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: N/A
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $45,913
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,493
  • Year 2: $61,020
  • Year 3: $55,012
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,853
  • Year 2: $40,209
  • Year 3: $42,479
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $27,494
  • Year 3: $36,042
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,489
  • Year 2: $24,649
  • Year 3: $27,358
Somatic Bodywork and Related Therapeutic Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $18,771
  • Year 3: $18,428

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