Green River College vs Bellingham Technical College: which has better ROI?
Green River College has the better ROI: it clears its 2-year net cost of $27,606 in 11.7 years versus 17.3 years at Bellingham Technical College, on median earnings of $50,712 vs $49,748 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Green River College | Bellingham Technical College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $13,803 | $5,997 |
| Total net cost | $27,606 | $23,988 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $50,712 | $49,748 |
| Median debt | $11,891 | $17,459 |
| Payback | 11.7 yrs | 17.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $19,434 | $3,772 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Green River College or Bellingham Technical College?
Bellingham Technical College, at $5,997 a year after aid versus $13,803 — a gap of $7,806 a year, or $3,618 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Green River College or Bellingham Technical College graduates earn more?
Green River College graduates report a median $50,712 ten years after entry, $964 more than the $49,748 at Bellingham Technical College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Green River College or Bellingham Technical College?
Green River College: its completers carry a median $11,891 in federal loans versus $17,459 at Bellingham Technical College, a difference of $5,568. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
42% of students finish at Bellingham Technical College, against 39% at Green River College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.