Best Community Colleges in Washington

Founded over 54 years ago, Washington’s system of community colleges now encompasses 34 schools that serve about 278,000 students every year. In 2017, The Seattle Times reported that about half of Washington’s high school graduates enrolled in a community college. These colleges work with local businesses and emerging industries to determine their workforce needs and help students learn the skills required to fill these roles.

Some community college students earn their associate degree before transferring to a four-year institution and continuing their education. Community colleges in Washington also offer short-term customized training for specific businesses, such as UPS, Seven2, and Fluid Motion.

Community colleges in Washington offer multiple educational pathways that can facilitate a student’s academic and career goals. From training certificates to associate and applied bachelor’s degrees, students can pursue the best option for their unique situation.

Washington’s Jobs Skills Program trains students to fill roles in specific industries. Businesses pay at least 50% of the college expenses for participants. These community colleges also offer numerous bachelor’s degree programs, including in nursing, computer sciences, digital marketing, dental hygiene, and cybersecurity.

Washington’s Gross State Product (GSP) reached over $531 billion in 2019 and grew over 4.5% in the five years preceding the pandemic. It was the number one state in GSP growth during this period and one of the fastest-growing economies in the nation.

Amazon claims the top spot as the largest private employer in the state. The tech industry also continues to dominate, with almost 200 Washington businesses receiving funding from venture capital firms in 2020. Microsoft moved to the state in 1979. Now, its global headquarters comprise 125 buildings on 500 acres of land.

The cost of living represents the money needed to afford the necessities, such as food, housing, transportation, and healthcare. Washington’s cost of living is about 12% higher than the national average. The state has the 14th highest cost of living in the U.S., surpassed by states like California, New York, Vermont, and Maine.

Of course, like most states, some areas are much more expensive to live in than others. For example, according to Bankrate’s cost of living calculator, people that live in the Seattle-Bellevue area pay an average of 32% more than those living in Kennewick and Richland.

Washington is a diverse state, with many residents of Asian, Native American, Latino/a, African, and European descent. Ranchers, loggers, fishers, and high-tech entrepreneurs make Washington their home. This diversity translates to hundreds of annual festivals in the state, in which people share food, music, and art from around the world.

Washington also boasts the oldest continuously operating farmers market in the nation. Seattle’s Pike Place Market attracts 10 million people a year looking for fresh-off-the-boat fish and much more. Washingtonians, known for their love of the outdoors, can venture to Olympic National Park, Mount Rainier, and the Columbia River Gorge to access nature.

Located in the Pacific Northwest, Washington maintains mild, yet foggy and drizzly weather conditions as a result of the warm currents of the Pacific Ocean. Summer days usually peak at 79 degrees Fahrenheit, and during winter the temperature rarely drops below 45 degrees. On the other side of the Cascade Mountain Range, Eastern Washington sees much warmer, dryer summers and colder winters.

While Seattle averages just 37-inches of annual rainfall, the Cascades can get up to 200 inches of snow, creating the perfect conditions for skiing at one of several ski resorts.

Washington’s unemployment rate continues to decline after peaking during the pandemic. The Employment Security Department (ESD) of Washington State reports that in August 2021, the state’s unemployment rate fell to 5.1%, slightly lower than the national unemployment rate of 5.2%. From August 2020 through August 2021, employment increased by 174,600 jobs.

According to ESD, the average yearly salary for state residents was $76,740 in 2020, up 10% from 2019. Some of the top industries currently hiring in Washington include hospitality, education, government, manufacturing, and business. The following represent some of the top jobs within these industries obtainable with an associate degree.

Industrial engineer technicians work in various industries, including computer and electronic manufacturing, transportation, and professional and technical services. They study workflow and production costs and determine alternatives that may increase production while lowering overhead. These technicians also collect data and prepare diagrams to assist in improving processes.

Most registered nurses work in hospitals and outpatient facilities. They assess and record patients’ conditions and medical histories. These professionals also provide care by administering medicines, treatments, and diagnostic tests. Nurses often provide emotional support and instruct patients and their families on managing their condition. State licensure is required.

Web developers design and build websites using content creation and management tools, programming languages, and supporting code. They may also perform tests to measure a website’s speed and monitor traffic. These developers may specialize in different types of websites and construction areas, such as back-end or front-end development.

Health information technologists combine their healthcare and information systems knowledge to help develop, modify, and analyze computerized healthcare systems. They may assign patients’ diagnosis codes and collect treatment and follow-up information. These technicians may also evaluate a healthcare facility, compiling reports on the use of hospital beds, diseases treated, and types of surgeries performed.

Occupational health and safety technicians help ensure the safety of workers by enforcing workplace safety and environmental regulations. They may conduct tests, measure hazardous conditions, investigate accidents, evaluate equipment, and implement procedures to avoid safety violations. Many of these technicians work for the government and in the manufacturing and construction sectors.

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