North Seattle College | Field Guide 2024

Over its rich, 52-year history, North Seattle College has solidified itself as one of the top transfer colleges in Washington and continually evolves to meet regional industry needs — including by offering six bachelor’s degrees and 60-plus professional-technical degrees and certificates that lead to competitive careers for our graduates.

With affordable and accessible programs, North Seattle College is primed to help people of all ages and backgrounds thrive with better jobs and new opportunities. Strong academic preparation and advising services, small classes, an innovative integrated studies program, broad e-learning options, and partnerships with four-year schools contribute to our students’ success.

Key Facts

Highest Enrolled Programs

Academic Transfer (AA, AS)
Art
Business
English as a Second Language
Early Childhood Education (AAS, Bachelor of Applied Science)
Parent Education
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

Enrollment

Headcount (all sources): 11,394
FTES (all sources): 3,554
Headcount (state-funded): 7,604
FTES (state-funded): 2,968

Students in Selected Programs

Applied bachelor's: 505
Apprentices: 4
I-BEST: 240
International: 306
Running Start: 543
Worker Retraining: 309

Student Profile

Type of Student

Academic/transfer: 28%
Basic skills: 9%
Workforce education: 21%
Other: 42%

Race/Ethnicity*

Students of color: 55%

American Indian/Alaska Native: 3%
Asian: 20%
Black/African American: 19%
Hispanic/Latino: 16%
Pacific Islander: 1%
White: 58%

Attendance

Full-time: 25%
Part-time: 75%

Family and Finances

Students receiving need-based financial aid: 45%
Students with dependents: 32%

Gender

Female: 63%
Male: 36%
X: 1%

Median age

Points of Interest

Bachelor’s programs that engage with industry partners

North Seattle College offers six bachelor’s degree programs including a new Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, along with five Bachelor of Applied Science degrees in Application Development, Early Childhood Education, and the business programs Accounting with International Accounting, International Business, and Residential and Commercial Property Management.

North’s bachelor’s programs have alumni at more than 150 different companies around the globe, including major technology companies, new startups, non-profits, international corporations, educational organizations, government agencies, and more.

North’s new Computer Science program has active engagement with industry partners, including recruiters and engineers at Amazon, Slalom, Microsoft, Expedia, Google, Avanade, Disney, Expeditors, Nordstrom, Starbucks, Philips, Premera, Salesforce, T-Mobile, and more.

High-ranking transfer programs

While many graduates have continued their studies at such colleges as Dartmouth and UC Berkeley, most North students transfer to the University of Washington. In fact, North consistently ranks among the highest of all community colleges in the number of students who are accepted to the University of Washington’s main campus.

The strength of North’s transfer programs comes from our faculty’s dedication to student learning. Small class sizes and a smaller campus allow students to develop individual relationships with faculty and staff.

Access to a thriving North Seattle community

The Northgate Light Rail and John Lewis Memorial Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge make it easier for students to access North Seattle College. The bridge spans from the northeast corner of the North Seattle College campus and connects to the Northgate Link Light Rail station. The light rail and bridge improve access to communities, services and opportunities on the east and west sides of Interstate 5 in Northgate and Licton Springs, helping knit together a thriving community.

Data is from the 2022-23 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.

Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.