Seattle is the most populated city in Washington and offers multiple community colleges. North Seattle Community College serves approximately 14,000 students every year. Located near the downtown Seattle area, Seattle Central Community College has 30 professional training programs and 50 student-run clubs. Another junior college in Seattle is the South Seattle Community College, an 87-acre campus with about 8,000 students.
Some community colleges can be found in Spokane, which has about 195,000 people. Spokane Community College is on the east side of town. The 148-acre school features 126 programs of study. Spokane Falls Community College serves more than 8,000 students and claims a 75 percent employment rate for those that complete their program. The Institute for Extended Learning is another community college in Spokane that provides day, night and online courses for students.
About 35 miles south of Seattle, Tacoma is home to a handful of community college choices. Bates Technical College has three campuses in Tacoma. With 14,000 students, Bates specializes in technical and industrial certifications. Tacoma Community College offers students technology buildings, athletic centers and a centralized location to the town's activities. The school also provides 40 areas of study and 60 professional degrees.
In the north part of the state, more community college options are available. Bellingham, a city of about 70,000 people 90 miles north of Seattle, features two junior colleges. Bellingham Technical Institute provides 50 associate degree options for students. The school opened in 1957 and serves more than 8,000 students with nearly equal split between men and women. Whatcom Community College can also be found in Bellingham. Whatcom offers a 22:1 faculty/student ratio. The two-year college features a wide variety of courses, including business, health care, law and technology.