Whatcom Community College is a regionally and nationally accredited college with an accomplished faculty and staff who serve nearly 11,000 students annually. On its 72-acre campus in Bellingham, Wash., and through online courses, Whatcom offers transfer degrees, professional-technical training programs, as well as basic education, job skills, and Community & Continuing Education classes. The college is regularly recognized as one of the nation’s top community colleges based on student success.  Established in 1967, Whatcom has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1976.

Year founded

1967 (Read more about Whatcom's history)

Location

Located on 72 acres in Whatcom County in Bellingham, WA

School colors and mascot

Burgundy and blue
Orca 

Enrollment (includes community and continuing education 2020-21, Student headcount and FTE)


7,154 annually 
4,703 quarterly 
3,303 FTE 

Student demographics* (credit-seeking students only, of students, 2020-21, Student headcount and FTE)

59% female; 41% male
79% 29 years of age or younger
91% from Whatcom County (of students 20 and younger) 
41% attending full time 
36% students of color 
38% first-generation 
*Credit-seeking students

Faculty & staff *Fall 2021 (WCC’s employee dashboard)

16:1 student-faculty ratio in 2020-21  (state faculty/student ratio dashboard)
459 employees  (includes classified, exempt, adjunct faculty, and full-time faculty – it doesn’t include part-time hourly)
82 full-time faculty 
140 part-time faculty 

Student profiles (2020-21, WCC’s student enrollment and success measures dashboard)

6,088 credit-seeking students annually 
1,150 Running Start students annually (569 FTE) 
257 international students from 25 countries
154 veterans
1,250 community & continuing education students annually

Degrees & certificates (WCC’s graduates dashboard)

75% of 2020-21 degrees earned: academic transfer (view degrees & certificates here)
21% of 2020-21 degrees earned: professional technical (healthcare, technology, business, education, law & justice) 

Top degrees WCC grads earn at two or four-year colleges

Business, finance, accounting
Social sciences
Humanities
Sciences and environmental sciences
Nursing
Engineering, engineering technology