Head-to-head comparison
Bellingham Technical College vs Heritage University: which has better ROI?
Option A Bellingham, WA
Bellingham Technical College
- Net price / year
- $5,997
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,748
- Payback
- 17.3 yrs
Option B Toppenish, WA
Heritage University
- Net price / year
- $14,598
- Earnings, 10 years
- $49,416
- Payback
- 55.3 yrs
Bellingham Technical College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $23,988 in 17.3 years versus 55.3 years at Heritage University, on median earnings of $49,748 vs $49,416 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bellingham Technical College | Heritage University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $5,997 | $14,598 |
| Total net cost | $23,988 | $58,392 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $49,748 | $49,416 |
| Median debt | $17,459 | $14,573 |
| Payback | 17.3 yrs | 55.3 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $3,772 | -$37,272 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Bellingham Technical College or Heritage University?
Bellingham Technical College, at $5,997 a year after aid versus $14,598 — a gap of $8,601 a year, or $34,404 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Bellingham Technical College or Heritage University graduates earn more?
Bellingham Technical College graduates report a median $49,748 ten years after entry, $332 more than the $49,416 at Heritage University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Bellingham Technical College or Heritage University?
Heritage University: its completers carry a median $14,573 in federal loans versus $17,459 at Bellingham Technical College, a difference of $2,886. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
54% of students finish at Heritage University, against 42% at Bellingham Technical College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.