community-collegetransferfinancial-aidWashington

Best Community Colleges in Seattle: Transfer, Tuition & Programs for 2026

GradeToGrad Editorial Team

February 28, 2026

Seattle-area CCs from $4,301 at Everett to $5,103 at South Puget Sound. Washington College Grant makes tuition free for most families.

Why Community College in Seattle?

Seattle-area community colleges charge $4,301-5,103/year, and Washington's College Grant makes tuition free for most families. The transfer system to UW and Washington state universities is well-established, and several CCs offer BSN-level nursing programs.

Washington is unique: many of its community colleges are classified as universities in the federal data because they now offer bachelor's degrees, but they retain community college pricing and mission.

Seattle-Area Community Colleges

Bellevue College — $4,305/year, 6,901 students

The largest on the Eastside. Offers a BSN program with graduates earning $97,067/year — essentially university-level outcomes at CC pricing. Strong STEM and business transfer. Located in the tech hub of the Eastside near Microsoft and Amazon.

Seattle Central College — $4,865/year, 3,879 students

Capitol Hill location. Highest ADN nursing earnings at $83,117. Strong arts, healthcare, and transfer programs. Part of the Seattle Colleges district.

Everett Community College — $4,301/year, 4,378 students

Lowest tuition in the metro. ADN nursing graduates earn $74,171. Strong advanced manufacturing, aviation, and criminal justice programs. North of Seattle.

Pierce College (Lakewood) — $4,686/year, 4,487 students

South Sound campus serving the Tacoma/Lakewood area near Joint Base Lewis-McChord. ADN nursing graduates earn $55,767. Strong military-connected student population.

Tacoma Community College — $4,920/year, 4,248 students

Serves downtown Tacoma. Nursing graduates earn $57,956. Strong healthcare and business programs. 6-year earnings: $38,790.

South Puget Sound CC (Olympia) — $5,103/year, 2,692 students

Near the state capital. Nursing graduates earn $69,107. Strong dental hygiene and fire science programs.

Bates Technical College (Tacoma) — $5,569/year, 1,613 students

Highest 6-year earnings of any Seattle-area CC at $45,569, reflecting strong skilled trades outcomes. Welding, machining, IT, and dental technology.

Transfer to UW

Washington's Direct Transfer Agreement (DTA) degree: earn an Associate in Arts at any Washington CC with a 2.0 GPA and receive guaranteed transfer credit (90 credits) at any Washington public university, including UW.

However, UW admission is competitive — the DTA guarantees credit transfer, not admission. Competitive GPA (3.5+) recommended for UW Seattle.

Financial Aid

Washington College Grant — covers full tuition at public colleges for families earning under ~$78,500/year (family of 4). One of the most generous state aid programs in the country.
College Bound Scholarship — for students who sign up in 7th/8th grade
Federal Pell Grant — covers CC tuition entirely with surplus

Most Seattle-area students from moderate-income families attend community college tuition-free.

Next Steps

Compare Seattle community colleges on GradeToGrad.