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Is Whatcom Community College worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Whatcom Community, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Whatcom Community sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $44,092 helps, but median debt of $10,643 plus yearly net price of $11,795 creates a tighter path. For context, Whatcom Community's net price is about 12% below the typical 4-year, public school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 774 similar 4-year, public schools
This school
$11,629
/yrAverage school like this
$13,155
/yrThis helps your Worth-It Score
You'd pay about $1,526 less per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $6,000 in savings.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$11,795
Median earnings 10 years out
$44,092
Median debt at graduation
$10,643
Graduation rate
36%
At Whatcom Community, a typical graduate carries about $10,643 in student debt and earns roughly $44,092 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $121 per month, or 3% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Whatcom Community is a two year school in Bellingham, WA. For many families, the real question is not just sticker price but what this path unlocks next, whether that is direct employment, transfer, or a lower cost route into a four year degree.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
2-year
Yakima Valley
Yakima, WA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $11,843
2-year
Clark
Vancouver, WA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $11,465
2-year
Bellevue
Bellevue, WA
Worth-It Score: 61/100
Median net price: $11,430
2-year
Big Bend Community
Moses Lake, WA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $12,210
2-year
Cascadia
Bothell, WA
Worth-It Score: 60/100
Median net price: $12,281
Common questions about Whatcom Community
The median net price at Whatcom Community is $11,795 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at public universities options in Washington? See the most affordable public universities in Washington →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →