Whatcom Community College | Field Guide 2021

Whatcom Community College (WCC) in Bellingham is a destination for cybersecurity, pre-engineering, health care, and business studies. Our college offers three Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Applied Business Management, IT Network-Cybersecurity, and Social work as well as transfer degrees, career preparation, online courses, and community education classes.

By offering affordable and accessible programs, Whatcom Community College helps people of every age and background to learn and thrive in today’s economy. Whether students are 16 or 60, just out of high school, or working adults, our college prepares them for the next step up in life. As a community college that serves a large number of low-income students and students who are the first in their families to attend college, Whatcom Community College is key to creating social and economic mobility for people throughout our region.

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Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

Associate in Arts and Sciences
Associate in Science–Transfer
Business
Basic Education for Adults
Cybersecurity

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 9,733
FTES (all sources): 3,725
Headcount (state-funded): 5,209
FTES (state-funded): 2,204

Students in Selected Programs

Applied bachelor's: 56
I-BEST: 87
International: 287
Running Start: 1,079
Worker Retraining: 84

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 49%
Basic skills: 9%
Other: 6%
Workforce education: 36%

Race/Ethnicity*

American Indian/Alaska Native: 4%
Asian: 11%
Black/African American: 4%
Hispanic/Latino: 19%
Pacific Islander: 1%
Other race: 2%
White: 73%

Attendance

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

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 46%
Students who work: 51%
Students with children: 17%

Gender

Female: 56%
Male: 44%

Median age

Points of Interest

Committed to economic recovery

Whatcom Community College (WCC) was named a Career Connect Washington Intermediary and awarded $100,000 from the Washington Employment Security Department to develop a new associate degree in software development. The college is working with local and regional employers like Technology Alliance Group for Northwest Washington (TAGNW) to develop the program and provide more paid work-based learning opportunities for students. WCC believes our community and economy recovers together. Workforce recovery staff provide community members with customized information and ensure students have an advocate at the college.

Bachelor of Applied Science degrees

WCC launched its second Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degree in fall 2020. The BAS in Applied Business Management will help meet the workforce needs of small- to medium-sized businesses that make up the majority of Whatcom County employers. The degree builds on WCC’s Associate in Science–Business Administration and related associate degrees in hospitality and tourism, accounting and finance. The college’s first BAS degree in IT Networking-Cybersecurity reaffirmed WCC as a national leader in cybersecurity education. WCC is home to the National Cybersecurity Training and Education Center (NCyTE).

Student-centered buildings

The college opened two new buildings in 2020: The Phyllis and Charles Self Learning Commons and Cedar Hall, WCC’s first on-campus student housing. The Learning Commons houses the library, writing center, computer services, collaboration and study spaces, instructional technology, and tutoring services. It also received a LEED Gold rating for environmental energy design. The state-of-the-art residence hall can house up to 240 students at maximum capacity in a variety of apartment styles including private rooms with private bathrooms. These buildings help students access services and resources they need to succeed.

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.