Whatcom Community College vs Big Bend Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Whatcom Community College comes closer — median earnings $44,092 against a $23,590 total, vs $43,814 at Big Bend Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Whatcom Community College | Big Bend Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $11,795 | $12,210 |
| Total net cost | $23,590 | $24,420 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $44,092 | $43,814 |
| Median debt | $10,643 | $9,166 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$108,950 | -$115,340 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Whatcom Community College or Big Bend Community College?
Whatcom Community College, at $11,795 a year after aid versus $12,210 — a gap of $415 a year, or $830 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Whatcom Community College or Big Bend Community College graduates earn more?
Whatcom Community College graduates report a median $44,092 ten years after entry, $278 more than the $43,814 at Big Bend Community 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, Whatcom Community College or Big Bend Community College?
Big Bend Community College: its completers carry a median $9,166 in federal loans versus $10,643 at Whatcom Community College, a difference of $1,477. 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 Big Bend Community College, against 36% at Whatcom Community 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.