Cascadia College | Field Guide 2026

Dr. Eric Murray

  • Dr. Meghan Quint, Chair
  • Mr. Alex Lee, Vice Chair
  • Dr. Colleen Ponto
  • Mr. Shahryar Qadri
  • Dr. Rania Hussein

1994

Snohomish County, northwest King County

1, 12, 41, 44, 45, 48

Cascadia logo

Cascadia College is the youngest of the state’s 34 community and technical colleges, established to serve the northeast side of Lake Washington as a comprehensive community college that also offers Basic Education for Adults, ESL, professional-technical certificates and degrees, two bachelor of applied science degrees, corporate and continuing education, and an English language program for international students. Every year, about 75% of students enrolled at Cascadia are intent upon pursuing four-year degrees.

Key Facts

  • Associate in Integrated Studies
  • Associate in Business
  • Associate in Science-Transfer to Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, and Atmospheric Sciences
  • Associate in Biology
  • Associate in Pre-Nursing

  • Headcount (all sources): 4,574
  • FTES (all sources): 2,448
  • Headcount (state-funded): 2,335
  • FTES (state-funded): 1,196

  • Bachelor's: 33
  • International: 247
  • Running Start: 1,079
  • Worker Retraining: 19

Student Profile

  • Academic/transfer: 58%
  • Basic skills: 11%
  • Workforce education: 2%
  • Other: 29%

Students of color: 54%

  • American Indian/Alaska Native: 2%
  • Asian: 34%
  • Black/African American: 6%
  • Hispanic/Latino: 14%
  • Pacific Islander: 1%
  • White: 51%

  • Full-time: 44%
  • Part-time: 56%

  • Students receiving need-based financial aid: 15%
  • Students with dependents: 17%

  • Female: 2,096
  • Male: 1,926
  • X: 32
  • Not reported: 520

21

Points of Interest

In order to graduate more students in STEM fields, Cascadia is strengthening its transfer partnership with UW Bothell through a “STEM Transfer 2.0” initiative for students in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Engineering, and Physics. The strategic initiative takes advantage of the institutions’ shared campus by facilitating classroom and lab visits, joint programming for possible careers, professor-to-professor visits, and direct admissions to majors through curriculum reform. Beginning with the Engineering major, this data-based effort includes capstone connection with UW Bothell faculty. STEM Transfer 2.0 employs targeted outreach to promote these opportunities.

This transfer degree is designed to educate and train students for careers that support Indigenous communities in a variety of fields. Enrolled students explore cultural heritage and knowledge systems, while exploring Tribal sovereignty, colonial impacts, history, politics, and economics through Indigenous perspectives. Students will analyze systems and stories and learn about many of the critical contributions made by Indigenous peoples.

Cascadia students enrolled in any two-year program can elect to earn a Sustainability Concentration. As sustainability becomes a top priority across industries and governments, this concentration gives students a competitive edge by equipping them with practical skills and ethical foundations they can apply to careers in virtually every field. Coursework includes Environmental Science, Wetland Conservation, Geology, Water Science, Oceanography, and more. It complements Cascadia’s national reputation for sustainability.

Data is from the 2024-25 academic year. Reflects headcount unless otherwise noted. Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.

*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.

**Excluding Running Start.