Grays Harbor College | Field Guide 2022

At Grays Harbor College, dedicated faculty and support staff take pride in empowering students to reach their full potential. For nearly 100 years, GHC has offered programs designed to prepare students in the Twin Harbors for success in their chosen fields. Today, GHC offers three bachelor of applied science programs, nine transfer degrees, and nearly 20 professional-technical programs. Attending GHC can be a pivotal turning point for students of all ages and backgrounds. Many students choose to earn their associate degrees at GHC before transferring to a college or university. Others come to GHC to earn professional-technical degrees or certificates that lead directly to a career. A growing number of students earn their Bachelor of Applied Science degree at GHC before going on to serve the community as educators, business leaders and in forest resource management. GHC also offers options for individuals seeking high school diplomas, GEDs® or improved English language proficiency.

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Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

Associate in Arts or Science
Business Management
Nursing and Pre-Nursing
Early Childhood Education
Human Services

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 2,665
FTES (all sources): 1,561
Headcount (state-funded): 1,809
FTES (state-funded): 1,079

Students in Selected Programs

Applied bachelor's: 78
Apprentices: 21
Corrections: 475
I-BEST: 55
International: 2
Running Start: 404
Worker Retraining: 214

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 35%
Basic skills: 19%
Other: 2%
Workforce education: 44%

Race/Ethnicity*

American Indian/Alaska Native: 9%
Asian: 4%
Black/African American: 8%
Hispanic/Latino: 18%
Pacific Islander: 2%
White: 75%

Attendance

Full-time: 56%
Part-time: 44%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 41%
Students with dependents: 65%

Gender

Female: 51%
Male: 49%

Median age

Points of Interest

Increasing equity through Guided Pathways

Under the leadership of a new Director of Advising and Guided Pathways, Grays Harbor College’s (GHC) Guided Pathways Committee determined four key priorities for the year: defining areas of study and program maps, restructuring the student intake process, aligning learning outcomes, and increasing program-level Math and English completion rates among students in their first year. By focusing on these four priorities, GHC will improve the overall student experience, increase efficiency, and support the Guided Pathways mission of improving equity in access and completion for all students.

A new Student Services Instructional Building

In 2021-22, Grays Harbor College will break ground on a new 70,000 square foot Student Services Instructional Building (SSIB). Designed to be a gateway to campus, the new SSIB will create an intuitive starting point for students, staff, and community members. In building the SSIB, GHC will expand its Student Services Department and consolidate its student support programs into one centralized location. The addition of conference services, large meeting rooms, and a culinary program will bring new opportunities to campus and the community. Accessibility on campus will also improve with the universally accessible building and at least 11 ADA parking spaces in close proximity to the center of campus.

Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education program grows

Grays Harbor College introduced its Bachelor of Applied Science in Teacher Education (BAS-TE) program in 2017 to meet the community’s need for educators. In 2021-22, GHC saw the most paraeducators enroll in the BAS-TE program yet. More GHC BAS-TE students were hired as long-term substitutes this year than ever before. To date, 80% of GHC’s BAS-TE graduates surveyed report to have obtained jobs in education.

Data is from the 2020-21 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.