Justin P. Guillory, PhD President | NWIC Foundation
Justin P. Guillory, PhD President | NWIC Foundation
Data shows that students paid $9,943 on average to attend higher education courses at the time, $298 more than the previous school year.
Among the four institutions in the county, Western Washington University stood out with the highest tuition fees, reaching an average of $12,011. Whatcom Community College followed with an average of $5,388 per year. Northwest Indian College students were offered the lowest annual tuition fees at $3,969.
At the time, a total of $23.2 million in grants or scholarships were awarded to full-time undergraduates who started at the Whatcom County universities in the 2022-23 school year. Additionally, federal student loans reached $7.7 million.
Currently there are four higher education institutions in Whatcom County, including Western Washington University, Northwest Indian College, and Bellingham Technical College.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Institution | Number of Students Receiving Grants | Total Amount of Grants Received | Average Amount of Grant Per Student | Number of Students Receiving Loans | Total Amount of Loans Received | Average Amount of Loans Per Student |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bellingham Technical College | 119 | $1,120,550 | $9,416 | 22 | $142,072 | $6,458 |
| Northwest Indian College | 59 | $476,955 | $8,084 | 0 | $0 | $0 |
| Whatcom Community College | 173 | $1,072,490 | $6,199 | 23 | $117,156 | $5,094 |
| Western Washington University | 2,909 | $20,482,758 | $7,041 | 1,040 | $7,458,302 | $7,171 |
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