Why WA has seen a big increase in these community college degrees

While Washington’s community and technical colleges reeled from enrollment declines during the pandemic, a subset of their programs saw an astonishing flood of interest. Applied baccalaureate degrees are on the rise. 

These programs target individuals with two-year technical degrees — which often don’t transfer into traditional bachelor’s tracks — to access promotions or rise into leadership roles in their existing job and community. 

A 2021 national survey of the programs by New America found that over 30% of Washingtonians majored in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), followed by nearly 25% in business, 23% in health care and nursing and the remainder in education. 

The average annual tuition for an applied baccalaureate in Washington is $7,143, comparable to tuition at the lowest-cost regional university, according to the state community and technical college board. The board reports that nearly 80% of graduates are employed three years after enrollment with a median yearly wage of $55,000. Five years after graduation, the median wage grows to $68,000. 

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