More students are seeking skills-focused education in Whatcom County as Bellingham Technical College reports enrollment growth for the second year in a row.
BTC welcomed 2,686 students in fall 2024, up from 2,370 in fall 2023 and 2,256 in fall 2022. The college is still short of pre-pandemic enrollment, but President James Lemerond expects to surpass those numbers this fall.
Nursing has seen the largest headcount increase from fall 2022 to 2024, along with high school completion programs. Lemerond highlighted additional growth in the fisheries and aquaculture program — they added an additional cohort due to demand — and the welding and process technology programs.
Staff credit the increase in students to a desire for an easy path to high-paying jobs, reduced barriers to college acceptance, and targeting soon-to-be high school graduates.
“There is a concrete and clear path for our students here, and the return on investment — when you look at what those careers are, and that two years that you spend here — I think it’s a big motivator for our students,” said Zoe Fraley, director of communications and marketing.
Many students who come to BTC are older: staff said the average age is about mid-20s. Alexandra Howarter, who is studying to become an electrician, said she was in the Navy before she came to the college.
But BTC has made a clear effort to recruit students fresh out of high school, two years ago piloting a direct admit to BTC for students who graduated.
College staff visited Lummi Nation School, Ferndale and Meridian, and this year, added Lynden to the list. Lemerond said all of their tours were full this year.
“We’re trying to get students thinking about BTC and workforce education sooner,” he said.
Reducing barriers to an education at BTC may have also helped: Lemerond said soon after he began as president in 2023, he removed entrance exams.
“Especially for the students who've been out of high school for a number of years, taking a high-stakes test is often something that makes them nervous, and they don't take it, or they'll take it and see the results and think, 'I'm not college material,'” he said. Now, the college has a "less intimidating” assessment of math, reading and English skills.
And once students are at BTC, it’s a small, supportive environment, he said. Retention has improved at the college in recent years. From 2023 to 2024, the college recorded a 16% increase in returning students.
The college has also been able to dole out $2 million in scholarships over the last two years, in part due to large contributions from an anonymous donor.
Students wanting to earn their GED make up another key part of the enrollment growth: those participating in high school completion programs at BTC has increased from 239 in fall 2022 to 325 in fall 2024.
One of those programs, the IMPACT! youth reengagement program, allows students 16-21 who are deficient in their credits, or left high school without a diploma, to come to BTC and earn their GED, said Heidi Ypma, vice president of instruction.
Once at BTC, they can continue on to pursue an associate's degree at little or no cost to them until they’re 21, Ypma said.
Faith Jarman was part of BTC’s IMPACT! program. She said she struggled in high school, but through IMPACT! was able to earn her GED and is now studying to become an electrician.
“I do not regret coming to BTC,” she said, calling it her "favorite." Now, she's active in student life, as the director of communications for the Associated Students of BTC.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
