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Bellingham Technical College

Bellingham, Washington · Public college · Training programs available:

Electrician schoolsCNA classesWelding schoolsEMT & paramedic trainingDiesel mechanic schoolsDental assistant schoolsCNC & machining programsRadiology & sonography programsAuto mechanic schoolsCulinary & pastry schoolsLPN / LVN programsMedical billing & coding programsHVAC schoolsDental hygiene programsConstruction trades programsSurgical technologist programs
not reportedcompletion rate · Washington avg 66%
$17,459median debt of graduates
$43,235median earnings, 6 yrs after entry
$49,748median earnings, 10 yrs after entry
not reportedannual cost of attendance
Yesfederal aid (FAFSA / Pell) eligible
Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing | American Dental Association, Commission on Dental Accreditation | Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (Accredited)
Address: 3028 Lindbergh Ave, Bellingham, WA 98225 · Phone: (360) 752-7000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Accountability record (federal accreditation database, last 36 months; Department of Education oversight)
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Sanctions are probation, warning, show-cause and loss-of-accreditation actions by any recognized accreditor, including program-specific accreditors (a nursing-program probation counts for the campus). Routine monitoring reviews and voluntary withdrawals are not counted. Ask the school what the action concerned and how it was resolved.

Bellingham Technical College is a public trade school in Bellingham, WA offering electrician, CNA, and welding programs, accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Graduates of Bellingham Technical College carry a median debt of $17,459 and earn a median of $49,748 ten years after entry, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; the campus's completion rate compared to the state average of 66.1% is not reported.

Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Bellingham Technical College; federal financial aid can be used since the school participates in Title IV, and about 30.9% of students receive Pell Grants.

What these trades pay once you're working

OccupationStarting (10th pct)MedianExperienced (75th)
Electricians$52,170$95,220$121,530
Nursing assistants$42,500$49,180$57,930
Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers$47,980$63,020$73,650
Emergency medical technicians$37,290$52,690$56,580
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists$54,720$77,900$92,880
Dental assistants$46,280$58,090$62,340
Machinists$48,360$66,160$80,340
Radiologic technologists and technicians$66,570$102,090$121,560
Automotive service technicians and mechanics$39,470$57,270$76,960
Chefs and head cooks$49,920$76,010$81,540
Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses$64,230$83,150$93,970
Medical records specialists$45,500$62,270$79,680
HVAC and refrigeration mechanics and installers$48,810$75,660$93,970
Dental hygienists$107,090$131,160$134,670
Construction laborers$39,930$57,720$72,160
Surgical technologists$55,270$77,270$90,620

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Washington (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.

Trade programs at this campus

ProgramCredentialGrads / yrEarnings, yr 1Earnings, yr 2Median debt
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Associate degree 40 $28,506 not reported not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, under 300 hours 34 not reported not reported not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Certificate, 300–899 hours 30 not reported $28,816 not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 1–2 years 27 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, under 300 hours 27 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 26 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 25 $50,485 $56,114 not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 25 $43,730 $36,848 not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 300–899 hours 19 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 1–2 years 17 not reported not reported not reported
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) Associate degree 16 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 16 not reported $37,363 not reported
Precision Metal Working Certificate, 1–2 years 15 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Associate degree 14 not reported not reported not reported
Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants Certificate, 300–899 hours 14 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 13 not reported not reported not reported
Precision Metal Working Associate degree 11 $43,730 $36,848 not reported
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions Associate degree 10 $32,897 not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 9 not reported $37,363 not reported
Building/Construction Finishing, Management, and Inspection Certificate, 300–899 hours 7 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Certificate, 1–2 years 7 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 6 $50,485 $56,114 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 1–2 years 5 not reported not reported not reported
Health and Medical Administrative Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 3 not reported not reported not reported
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions Associate degree 2 $50,485 $56,114 not reported
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported not reported not reported
Culinary Arts and Related Services Associate degree 2 not reported $31,851 not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Certificate, 300–899 hours 2 not reported not reported not reported
Electrical and Power Transmission Installers Certificate, 300–899 hours 1 not reported not reported not reported
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians Associate degree 1 not reported $37,363 not reported

Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.

Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.

Visit the school's website ↗

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About this school

Bellingham Technical College is a public trade and career school located in Bellingham, Washington, a small city setting. The campus is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, with additional program-level accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation. Federal financial aid, including FAFSA and Pell Grants, can be used here since the school participates in Title IV programs. Among its 30 program offerings, the most-completed trade programs are Electrician schools (68 completers), CNA classes (41), and Welding schools (40), out of 426 total trade completers and 1,733 undergraduate students enrolled.

On outcomes, the state average completion rate for comparable programs is 66.1%, though how this campus's own completion rate compares is not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates carry a median debt of $17,459, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $49,748, per the College Scorecard. The annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 30.9% of students receive Pell Grants, suggesting a meaningful share of the student body qualifies for need-based aid.

Given its mix of shorter certificate-style trades like welding and CNA work alongside more technical programs like electrician training, this campus may suit both first-time students and adults changing careers, though specific program lengths are not detailed here. Prospective students should verify accreditation status and review current outcome data directly through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.

Questions students ask

What trade and career programs does this campus offer?

Bellingham Technical College offers 30 programs across families including electrician, CNA, welding, EMT, diesel mechanic, dental assistant, CNC machining, radiology tech, culinary, LPN, medical billing/coding, HVAC, dental hygiene, and surgical tech. The most-completed programs are Electrician schools (68 completers), CNA classes (41), and Welding schools (40).

Is this school accredited, and by whom?

Yes, the school is accredited. Institutional accreditation comes from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, with program-specific accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the American Dental Association's Commission on Dental Accreditation.

Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?

Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so students can use FAFSA-based aid including Pell Grants.

What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?

The state average completion rate for similar programs is 66.1%, but this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to that average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school or check the College Scorecard for updates.

How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?

Graduates carry a median debt of $17,459, per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

What do graduates of this school earn?

Median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry are $49,748, per the College Scorecard.

How much does it cost to attend for a year?

The annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. Contact the school at (360) 752-7000 or visit btc.edu for current tuition figures.

Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?

Bellingham Technical College is a public institution, which often means lower tuition for state residents and eligibility for state-funded aid programs compared to private for-profit schools.

How long do the programs here take to complete?

Specific program lengths are not reported in the available data. Contact the school directly at (360) 752-7000 or via btc.edu to confirm program duration.

How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?

You can verify accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?234696.

Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?

The campus offers a range of shorter trade programs like welding and CNA classes alongside more technical fields like electrician training, which may suit adults seeking career changes, though exact program lengths and schedule flexibility are not reported in this data.

How do I contact the school or apply?

You can reach Bellingham Technical College at (360) 752-7000 or through its website at https://www.btc.edu/ for application details.

How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?

Comparative data against other nearby trade schools is not reported in this dataset; prospective students can use the College Scorecard link to compare campuses directly.

Other trade and career schools in Bellingham, WA

See all trade and career schools in Washington or search by ZIP code.

Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.

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