Bellingham Technical College — ROI, Cost & Payback
Bellingham Technical College charges a net price of $5,997/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $23,988. Graduates earn a median $49,748 ten years after entry, $1,388/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 17.3 years — a 20-year net return of $3,772, a slow but positive payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Bellingham Technical College's 17.3-year payback ranks #1,014 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 21% of them, and #26 of 64 in Washington.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $5,997/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $23,988 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $49,748 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $1,388/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $17,459 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 17.3 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $3,772 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Bellingham Technical College's own numbers. Net price $5,997 × 4 years = $23,988 total. Median earnings $49,748 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $1,388 a year of premium. $23,988 ÷ $1,388 = 17.3 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $3,772. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Bellingham Technical College students graduate with?
A median $17,459 in federal loans among completers, or 35% of the $49,748 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Bellingham Technical College students graduate?
42% finish their degree — 58% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $23,988 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $57,114 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Bellingham Technical College expensive compared with other Washington colleges?
Its $5,997 net price runs $6,030 below the $12,027 median across the 64 Washington colleges we profile, and $24,118 less across the full degree.