Whatcom Community College

www.whatcom.ctc.edu

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$4,523

2.35% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$9,450

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

3.5%

Default Rate

2021 Enrolled Students

3,850

49.1% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

34%

102 Graduates

About

Whatcom Community College is a higher education institution located in Whatcom County, WA. In 2021, the most popular Associates Degree concentrations at Whatcom Community College were Liberal Arts & Sciences (559 degrees awarded), General Business (51 degrees), and Physical Therapy Technician (45 degrees).

In 2021, 1,343 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Whatcom Community College. 62.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 37.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (844 degrees), 4.88 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (173 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Whatcom Community College is $4,523, which is $−3,445 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

Associates Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional Associates Colleges

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Whatcom Community College is $4,523, which is $−3,445 less than the national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $9,450.

In 2021, 47% of undergraduate students attending Whatcom Community College received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 7% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$4,523

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Whatcom Community College was $4,523. The cost of tuition at Whatcom Community College is $−3,445 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Associates Colleges ($7,968).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Whatcom Community College (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$9,450

2021 Value

19.3%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Whatcom Community College had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $9,450. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Whatcom Community College grew by 19.3%.

This chart compares the average net price of Whatcom Community College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$9,477

Room and Board

$930

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Whatcom Community College was of $9,477 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 3.74% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $930. The cost of books and supplies increased by 3.33% during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Whatcom Community College (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

47%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

47% of undergraduate students at Whatcom Community College received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 27% with respect to 2020, when 37% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Whatcom Community College (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

3.5%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Whatcom Community College was 3.5%, which represents 13 out of the 371 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Enrollment

Whatcom Community College had a total enrollment of 3,850 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Whatcom Community College is 1,891 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,959. This means that 49.1% of students enrolled at Whatcom Community College are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Whatcom Community College, both undergraduate and graduate, is 59.2% White, 13.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.36% Two or More Races, 5.4% Asian, 1.51% Black or African American, 0.883% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.312% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Whatcom Community College in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (34.1%), followed by White Male (24.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (7.24%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

49.1%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Whatcom Community College in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 3,850 students. The full-time enrollment at Whatcom Community College is 1,891 and the part-time enrollment is 1,959. This means that 49.1% of students enrolled at Whatcom Community College are enrolled full-time compared with 32.5% at similar Associates Colleges.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Whatcom Community College (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

60%

2016 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Whatcom Community College was 60%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Associates Colleges (60%), Whatcom Community College had a retention rate approximately the same as its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Whatcom Community College (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
2,279 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
518 enrolled students
Two or More Races
245 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Whatcom Community College is 59.2% White, 13.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.36% Two or More Races, 5.4% Asian, 1.51% Black or African American, 0.883% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.312% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Associates Colleges is 44.1% White, 26.8% Hispanic or Latino, and 12.5% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 261 students (6.78%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 343 more women than men received degrees from Whatcom Community College. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Whatcom Community College is white (844 degrees awarded). There were 4.88 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (173 degrees).

The most common Associates Degree concentration at Whatcom Community College is Liberal Arts & Sciences (559 degrees awarded), followed by General Business (51 degrees) and Physical Therapy Technician (45 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Whatcom Community College, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Liberal Arts & Humanities (559 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (51 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (224 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Whatcom Community College are Software developers (482,554 people), Other managers (129,165 people), Computer occupations, all other (116,126 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (111,159 people), and Computer & information systems managers (107,712 people).

The most specialized majors at Whatcom Community College in 2021 are Liberal Arts & Humanities (559 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (51 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (224 degrees), Legal (27 degrees), and Communication Technologies (6 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Whatcom Community College are Surgeons, Broadcast announcers and radio disc jockeys, Physicians, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Whatcom Community College are Liberal Arts & Humanities (559 degrees awarded), Human Sciences (51 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (224 degrees), Legal (27 degrees), and Communication Technologies (6 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Whatcom Community College are Computer Systems Design (538,438 people), Elementary & secondary schools (234,267 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (122,859 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (95,624 people), and Insurance carriers (86,071 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Whatcom Community College.

Most Common (2021)

Liberal Arts & Sciences
559 degrees awarded
General Business
51 degrees awarded
Physical Therapy Technician
45 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common associates degree concentration at Whatcom Community College was Liberal Arts & Sciences with 559 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from associates degree programs at Whatcom Community College according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

500

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

843

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 500 degrees were awarded to men at Whatcom Community College, which is 0.593 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (843).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Whatcom Community College by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 196 degrees were awarded to men at Whatcom Community College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 0.54 times less than the 363 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 363 degrees were awarded to men at Whatcom Community College in Liberal Arts & Sciences, which is 1.85 times more than the 196 male recipients with that same degree.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (43.1%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Whatcom Community College is Female and White (43.1% graduation rate). Across all Associates Colleges, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
844 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
173 degrees awarded
Two or More Races
82 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Whatcom Community College is white (844 degrees awarded). There were 4.88 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (173 degrees).

7.07% of degree recipients (95 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
519 degrees awarded
White Male
325 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino Female
125 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Whatcom Community College is white female (519 degrees awarded). There were 1.6 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (325 degrees).

Operations

Whatcom Community College has an endowment valued at nearly $9.17M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 47.5k (0.518%) compared to the 1.65% average return (87.6k on 5.29M) across all Associates Colleges.

In 2021, Whatcom Community College had a total salary expenditure of 61.7M. Whatcom Community College employs 89 Instructors. Most academics at Whatcom Community College are Female Instructor (54), and Male Instructor (35).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Whatcom Community College are: Management, with 60 employees, Office and Administrative Support, with 55 employees, and Service with 36 employees.

Endowment

$9.17M

2021 Endowment

8.79%

growth from 2020

Whatcom Community College has an endowment valued at about $9.17M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Whatcom Community College grew 8.79% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $3.88M higher than than the median endowment of Associates Colleges according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Whatcom Community College (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Associates Colleges: High Transfer-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$4.19M - Federal
$3.04M - State
$6.49M - Local

As of 2021, Whatcom Community College received $4.19M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $3.04M from state grants and contracts, and $6.49M from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$24.2M

2021 Salaries

2.78%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Whatcom Community College paid a median of $24.2M in salaries, which represents 39.3% of their overall expenditure ($61.7M) and a 2.78% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Associates Colleges is 16.4M (41.6% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$6.69M

Instructional Salaries

Number of Employees

In 2021, Whatcom Community College paid a total of $6.69M to 89 employees working as instructors, which represents 27.6% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $5.1M (31.2%) for similar Associates Colleges.

Occupations by Share

Instructor

Most Common Instructor

89 Employees

Management

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

60 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Whatcom Community College was Instructor with 89 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Whatcom Community College were Management with 60 employees, Office and Administrative Support with 55 employees, and Service with 36 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female Instructor
Male Instructor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Whatcom Community College was Female Instructor with 54 employees, and Male Instructor with 35 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Whatcom Community College.