Lake Washington Institute of Technology | Field Guide 2022

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

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 5,183
FTES (all sources): 2,911
Headcount (state-funded): 4,790
FTES (state-funded): 2,501

Students in Selected Programs

Bachelor's: 392
Apprentices: 124
I-BEST: 222
International: 153
Running Start: 218
Worker Retraining: 381

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 36%
Basic skills: 5%
Other: 10%
Workforce education: 49%

Race/Ethnicity*

American Indian/Alaska Native: 2%
Asian: 19%
Black/African American: 6%
Hispanic/Latino: 16%
Pacific Islander: 1%
White: 63%

Attendance

Full-time: 57%
Part-time: 43%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 30%
Students with dependents: 49%

Gender

Female: 63%
Male: 37%

Median age

Points of Interest

Job creation

Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) provides students with the latest, in-demand skills relevant to today’s workplace, especially during the state’s economic recovery, by offering 10 applied bachelor’s degrees, more than 35 associate degrees and 86 professional certificates in 42 areas of study, including STEM-focused programs in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

LWTech is a workforce college. Partnerships with industry are an integral part of the success of our programs, so our curriculum is in-line with current industry demand.

LWTech has articulation agreements with many colleges and universities so all degrees, even those designed for direct employment, have at least one transfer option to another college, or students can stay at LWTech in one of our applied bachelor’s degrees.

Applied bachelor’s degrees

LWTech offers 11 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 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.