Bellevue College | Field Guide 2023

Bellevue College logo

Bellevue College (BC) prepares students for what's next in their lives — whether it's pursuing a degree pathway, preparing for the academic rigor of a four-year university, advancing in a current career, or simply learning a new skill.

With a strong history of innovation and national recognition for exemplary programs, BC enrolls nearly 20,000 students annually, awarding certificates, associate degrees, and a growing list of bachelor's degrees in high-demand, specialized career fields. BC transfers the most students to four-year universities than any other college in Washington state.

The campus stretches across 100 wooded acres and is located within easy reach of the city centers of Bellevue and Seattle.

Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

Business/Accounting/other Business
Science/Engineering/Math
Psychology/other Social and Behavioral Sciences
Communications Studies
Nursing/other Health Sciences

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 19,765
FTES (all sources): 9,909
Headcount (state-funded): 14,397
FTES (state-funded): 6,295

Students in Selected Programs

Bachelor's: 1,194
I-BEST: 80
International: 1,113
Running Start: 2,945
Worker Retraining: 248

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 58%
Basic skills: 6%
Workforce education: 22%
Other: 15%

Race/Ethnicity*

Students of color: 57%

American Indian/Alaska Native: 2%
Asian: 36%
Black/African American: 8%
Hispanic/Latino: 13%
Pacific Islander: 1%
White: 54%

Attendance

Full-time: 46%
Part-time: 54%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 8%
Students with dependents: 30%

Gender

Female: 59%
Male: 41%

Median age

Points of Interest

BC noted for medical programs

BC’s medical programs offer both in-person and remote environments to prepare students for a wide range of health care careers. Students can gain the skills and education needed to enter fields such as nursing, health care informatics/management, phlebotomy, radiation and imaging sciences. The demand for these careers is significant. Students can earn certificates, Associate of Applied Science Transfer degrees (AAS-T), or Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) degrees. Certificate options include Medical Administrative Assistant, Health Unit Coordinator, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Phlebotomy Technician, Clinical Lab Assistant, Emergency Department Technician, and Medical Assistant–Certified (MA-C).

New BAS prepares students for careers in AI

Artificial intelligence has emerged as a high-demand field over the last decade. BC’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Software Development with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence was specifically designed to meet this demand. It is a four-year, 180-credit program that prepares students for a career in AI. This concentration includes fundamentals of AI and uses Python programming languages. Focus areas include Natural Language Processing, AI Impacts and Applications, Human-Centered AI Interaction and Design and Applied Statistical Methods.

BAS Cybersecurity meets employer demand

The Bachelor of Applied Science program in Cybersecurity meets employer-identified need for systems administrators and security analysts. The program provides a pathway to an applied bachelor’s degree for students with two-year technical associate degrees in IT. The decision to establish this program was based in part on findings by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that a bachelor’s degree is now considered the minimum level of education for a variety of IT occupations. As a result, more students, along with existing IT professionals, will be compelled to continue their education.

Data is from the 2021-22 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted.

*Students of color percent based on unduplicated headcount. Students may be counted in more than one race, so race/ethnicity percentages may not total 100%. Percentages calculated on reported value.