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College Cost Comparisons
Whether your long-term goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree from a university or to learn a new skill and go to work, you can save money at the community and technical colleges.
Renton Technical College

Tuition Comparison

Based on 2008-09 academic year (fall, winter, spring quarter attendance), here are estimated tuition rates for full-time undergraduate Washington resident students.

tuition comparison
Educational Institution Cost
Room, board, transportation and other living expenses will vary per student.
Community & technical colleges, public $2,730
Regional colleges & universities, public (WWU, CWU, EWU) $4,788
Public research universities (UW, WSU) $6,367
Private four-year colleges and universities $22,000
Private vocational, career schools $20,000

Professional-Technical Degrees

When you attend a community or technical college for workforce training—instead of a private vocational school—you can save thousands in tuition dollars and avoid large student loans.

And best of all, if you decide to transfer to another community or technical college, your credits are portable within the system.

Private vocational schools cost more and their credits are not accepted at the community and technical colleges.

Tuition Savings Example

The following example is from StateUniversity.com website.

  • Associate of Applied Science in network services & computing systems from Bellevue Community College costs about $5,460. (Two years, 91 credits, $60 per credit)
  • Applied degree in information technology/computer network systems from ITT Technical Institute costs about $39,552. (Two years, 96 credits, $412 per credit unit)

Bachelor’s Degree

If you plan to earn a bachelor’s degree, you can save by earning a transfer degree first.

Tuition Savings Example

Cost estimate scenarios include only tuition (no books, housing or transportation) at today’s rates.

  • A 90-credit transfer degree from a community college for $5,460, plus two years at a regional university for $9,576 for a total of $15,036.
  • Four years attendance at a regional university costs $19,152.