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.
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.
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.
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Try the Calculator →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.