Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Field Guide 2021

As the only public institute of technology in Washington state, Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) provides students with the latest, in-demand skills relevant to today’s workplace. LWTech offers 11 applied bachelor’s degrees, more than 41 associate degrees and 83 professional certificates in 41 areas of study, including STEM-focused programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Grounded in equity and the need for resilience, LWTech’s values give us the tools to implement our mission and vision. Working to create an inclusive, innovative, collaborative and respectful community, LWTech helps people of every age, and background, achieve their educational and career goals.

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Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

Nursing
Digital Gaming and Interactive Media
Health Sciences
Computing and Software Development
Early Childhood Education

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 5,938
FTES (all sources): 3,161
Headcount (state-funded): 5,412
FTES (state-funded): 2,654

Students in Selected Programs

Applied bachelor's: 309
Apprentices: 135
I-BEST: 175
International: 183
Running Start: 215
Worker Retraining: 333

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 10%
Basic skills: 9%
Other: 17%
Workforce education: 64%

Race/Ethnicity*

American Indian/Alaska Native: 2%
Asian: 22%
Black/African American: 4%
Hispanic/Latino: 14%
Pacific Islander: 1%
Other race: 3%
White: 61%

Attendance

Full-time: 48%
Part-time: 52%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 33%
Students who work: 34%
Students with children: 25%

Gender

Female: 66%
Male: 34%

Median age

Points of Interest

Job creation

LWTech is continually expanding programs, and starting new ones, to meet emerging needs in industry. For example, LWTech:

Expanded the Human Resources Management program from mid-career certificate to an entry-level associate degree.
Created a Biomedical Manufacturing certificate, with plans to expand it to an associate degree.
Expanded the Laser and Optics program from a post-graduate certificate to an associate degree.

LWTech’s robust Workforce Development program ensures the state’s most underserved students have the financial support needed to enroll in these programs. Last year, LWTech served over 600 students through the Worker Retraining, WorkFirst, Opportunity Grant, and Basic Food Education and Training programs.

Applied bachelor’s degrees

LWTech offers 10 Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Applied Management–Entrepreneurship; Behavioral Healthcare; Dental Hygiene; Design; Digital Gaming and Interactive Media; Early Childhood Education; Funeral Services Education; Information Technology: Computing and Software Development; Public Health; and Transportation Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Providing applied bachelor’s degrees gives students the opportunity to earn their two-year and four-year degrees all at LWTech; effectively ending terminal degrees and creating pathways to bachelor’s degrees at LWTech or universities.

I-BEST

LWTech is recognized as a state leader in I-BEST (Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training).

Nine of our 10 Schools of Instruction have I-BEST programs, with the 10th planned for 2021-22.
Enrollment in I-BEST doubled in three years since LWTech connected I-BEST to Guided Pathways.
I-BEST students took only one additional quarter to earn a credential than college-level students. They also earned more college credits per quarter and graduated at two to three times the rate of college-level students.
42% of I-BEST students graduate compared to 2% of basic education students who transition to college-level courses without the support of I-BEST.

Data is from the 2019-20 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted.

*May not add up to 100% because students may be counted in more than one race. Percentages calculated on reported value.