Located in Kirkland just east of Seattle, LWTech (founded 1949) currently enrolls more than 6,300 students. It holds the distinction of being the only public institute of technology in the Evergreen State. LWTech comprises seven schools and offers associate degrees for transfer, bachelor's programs, and professional certificates in more than 41 areas of study.

Direct Transfer Agreements (DTA) between LWTech and several four-year institutions facilitate the transfer process for graduates who wish to pursue a bachelor's in a participating college or university. Programs covered by DTA include associate of arts and associate of science degrees in construction management, computer science, math education, and bioengineering, to name just a few. LWTech offers apprenticeships in several occupational arenas.

LWTech also offers bachelor of applied science (BAS) programs in 10 fields of study, such as behavioral healthcare, applied management, digital gaming and interactive media, and public health. Admission criteria for BAS programs differ, but they generally require the completion of an associate degree in a related field. Many of the BAS programs at LWTech grant college credits for prior learning experience.

Renton Technical College opened in 1941 and has grown steadily from offering basic pre-employment training programs to more than 45 degrees and certificates across eight career pathways. RTC currently enrolls about 4,000 students each year.

The college offers bachelor of applied science programs in application development and in computer network architecture. Applicants must hold an associate degree in information technology or a related field from an accredited institution for consideration. RTC maintains transfer agreements with several four-year institutions in the state and throughout the region, including Western Governors University and Central Washington University.

RTC coordinates 16 apprenticeship programs that serve approximately 1,500 apprentices each year. Apprenticeship areas include carpentry, culinary arts, construction, and heat and frost insulation. Each program adheres to specific criteria in terms of admission, completion, and length of training. RTC typically awards a corresponding certificate to students who complete an apprenticeship program. However, students who enroll in additional related courses during their apprenticeship may qualify for an associate in applied science degree.

Established in 1957, Bellingham Technical College currently enrolls over 5,400 students each year. The college offers more than 65 degree and certificate programs across 10 fields of study, including industrial technology, engineering and advanced manufacturing, fisheries and aquaculture sciences, and culinary arts. BTC also offers workforce development programs, adult and continuing education courses, and other noncredit educational opportunities for students and other members of the larger community.

BTC offers two bachelor of applied science (BAS) programs: a fully online BAS in operations management and an on-campus BAS in engineering technology. The college maintains transfer agreements with several senior universities around the region to facilitate the transfer process for its graduates. The number of credits accepted for transfer depends on the criteria of receiving institutions. The college also offers direct transfer degrees in nursing, business, and computer science. Students who complete these specialized programs transfer to a four-year institution with a junior status.

Enrolling just under 300 students when it opened in 1955, Columbia Basin College now admits more than 11,000 students each year. The college maintains over 100 degree and certificate programs across eight areas of study, including health sciences, career and technical education, business, and computer science.

CBC offers bachelor of applied science (BAS) programs in teacher education, health physics, project management, and dental hygiene, among others. BAS programs often schedule classes in the evening or deliver them online to provide greater flexibility and convenience to students. The School of Health Sciences offers an associate degree in nursing and an RN-to-BSN program for associate-trained registered nurses.

CBC continually coordinates with local businesses and trade unions to offer apprenticeship programs to its students. The college currently offers apprenticeships in eight areas, including carpentry, electrical, ironworks, plumbing, and sheet metal. CBC awards a certificate to apprentices who complete their program. Graduates also earn a journeyman credential from the state.

Occupying an 83-acre campus just 10 miles north of Seattle, Shoreline Community College enrolls approximately 10,000 students each year. Shoreline offers more than 150 programs across five areas of study: arts and communication, STEM, business, health and medical, and social sciences and education. The larger community benefits from several programs available at the college, such as ESL classes, adult and continuing education courses, and personal enrichment learning opportunities.

Shoreline offers 53 degrees for transfer including a pre-major in business available 100% online. The college maintains articulation agreements with several four-year colleges and universities in Washington and throughout the country to facilitate the transfer process for its graduates. Professional technical programs include 10-week certificates and two-year associate degrees, several of which can be completed entirely online.

The college maintains several scholarship and grant programs to help students pay for their education. For example, the Opportunity Grant Program specifically targets low-income students enrolled in a workforce education program such as business technology, manufacturing, or automotive.

Clover Park Technical College started out in 1941 as part of the country's war effort, training civilian workers to repair and maintain military equipment. Today, CPTC offers over 40 programs in diverse fields such as human services, health sciences, advanced manufacturing, and aerospace. The college enrolls more than 6,600 students with a median age of 29. CPTC offers community education programs, corporate training services, and credit and noncredit lifelong learning opportunities that benefit students and members of the larger community.

CPTC currently maintains articulation agreements with several private and public four-year institutions throughout the state and surrounding region. Some of these include Washington State University, Excelsior College, St. Martin's University, and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.

The college recently received a grant for $270,000 to enhance its HVAC, refrigeration, and roofing apprenticeship program. CPTC also offers an apprenticeship in medical assisting and sterile processing through a partnership with a local healthcare provider.

Established in 1967, Walla Walla Community College enrolls close to 5,000 students and offers academic and workforce training programs in seven education pathways. Students can earn an associate degree and occupational certificate in manufacturing, operations, and transportation; healthcare and emergency services; business and consumer services; and business.

The majority of students (53%) at WWCC enroll in workforce education programs leading to an occupational credential. The college offers seven direct transfer agreement (DTA) programs in fields like biology, business, nursing, and math education. DTA degrees transfer in full to participating four-year institutions granting junior standing to transferees.

Associate in applied science (AAS) programs at WWCC typically prepare students to enter the workforce immediately after completion. However, the college offers several AAS for transfer degrees (AAS-T) that students can later apply toward a bachelor's at a four-year institution. AAS-T degrees include programs in agricultural science and technology, watershed ecology, turf management, and early childhood education.

About 5,000 students enroll at Peninsula College every year. The college offers certificates, associate degrees, and a bachelor's program across five academic departments. Peninsula College serves a region that includes six Native American tribal reservations. Recognizing the unique educational needs of these communities, the college offers two degrees specifically for Native American students -- an associate in arts bridge program and a native pathways bachelor of arts program.

Peninsula College offers a bachelor of applied science (BAS) in applied management for students who already hold an associate degree. The program includes an internship component that students can begin once they complete 45 credit hours. The college delivers many of the courses for the BAS online for added convenience and flexibility. The program follows a rolling admission policy and accepts applications throughout the year.

Peninsula College maintains a Worker Retraining program for students facing temporary or long-term financial assistance. The program helps furloughed enrollees, students who are displaced homemakers or who have exhausted their unemployment benefits, and other vulnerable students.

Called the Olympia Vocational Technical Institute when it opened in 1962, South Puget Sound Community College currently serves a population of 6,000 students every quarter. The college offers 60 associate and certificate programs across 10 educational pathways, including government, public, and nonprofit administration; social services and education; information technology; and food, beverage arts, and hospitality. SPSCC also maintains corporate and continuing education programs and provides personal development classes and cultural enrichment opportunities for members of the larger community.

SPSCC offers direct transfer agreement (DTA) associate degrees in biology, music, business, and nursing. In most instances, students who complete a DTA degree at SPSCC transfer to a participating four-year institution with junior standing. The college also maintains articulation agreements with other senior colleges and universities that facilitate the transfer of specific courses within similar programs.

The Career Services Center at SPSCC helps students find part-time on-campus employment, full-time jobs after graduation, and internship and apprenticeship opportunities. The center also provides career exploration services and assistance with resume writing and job interviews.

Founded in1941, Everett Community College moved to its current site only in 1958. Today, the college maintains a variety of educational options for the 19,000 students who enroll every year. EvCC offers more than 100 associate degrees, certificates and occupational credentials, and apprenticeship programs across eight career pathways.

EvCC maintains transfer agreements with several four-year institutions in the region, including Central Washington University and Eastern Oregon University. These agreements facilitate the transfer of specific courses taken at EvCC to similar programs in a receiving college or university. EvCC offers a few programs under a direct transfer agreement (DTA) with some four-year colleges and universities. DTA degrees transfer in its entirety, and students transfer to the receiving school as juniors.

EvCC continues to work with local businesses and trade unions to offer apprenticeship options to its students. The college currently maintains apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing technology; machining, precision metal fabrication, industrial maintenance, tool and die; and plastic process technology.

When Peirce College opened in 1967 as Clover Park Community College, more than 1,500 students enrolled for classes. Today, the college serves approximately 10,000 students each year and maintains a variety of educational programs across six career pathways. Peirce College offers associate degrees and professional certificates in fields like construction management, social service and mental health, communication and design, and public service.

Students can pursue an on-campus bachelor of applied science (BAS) in business management, dental hygiene, and teaching. The BAS programs in fire services leadership and in homeland security emergency management offer mostly online courses. BAS program applicants must hold an associate degree and, in most cases, show proof of significant professional experience.

Peirce College offers direct transfer degrees in biology, math education, business, and computer science, among others. These degrees fall under direct transfer agreements (DTA) between Peirce College and four-year colleges and universities in the region. Graduates of DTA degrees transfer to receiving institutions with a junior standing.

Bellevue College serves a student population of over 32,000 each year, making it the third largest postsecondary institution in the state. Students can choose from more than 120 associate or bachelor's degrees as well as professional and technical certificates currently available. Fields of study include allied health and nursing, computer and information systems, digital media arts, and robotics and artificial intelligence, just to name a few.

BC offers bachelor of applied science programs for students who already hold an associate degree. BAS programs include diverse fields such as digital marketing, healthcare informatics, molecular biosciences, and data analytics. Additionally, through a long-time partnership with Eastern Washington University, BC offers a bachelor of science in nursing and in computer science. Students can complete these programs from Eastern right on the BC campus.

The college offers nine associate degrees for transfer in music, business, bioengineering, and physics, among others. Students can also complete an associate program that prepares them for immediate workplace employment after graduation.

An average of 6,000 students each quarter enroll at North Seattle College , located just a short distance from the University of Washington. North currently offers six transfer and five bachelor of applied science (BAS) degrees, 34 associate of applied science programs, and 82 professional certificates. Additionally, the college maintains career training and college preparation programs, offers ESL and adult education classes, and coordinates several noncredit learning opportunities for the benefit of the larger community.

The college organizes its programs according to six career pathways including business and finance; engineering and technology; and social sciences and education. BAS programs at North include internship opportunities and award college credits for prior learning and relevant work experience. Associate degrees for transfer include programs in business, fine arts, environmental sciences, and engineering.

North Seattle College recently partnered with Central Washington University (CWU) to give graduates of a BAS in international business or application development the chance to complete a master's degree from CWU. The university offers coursework for this special program completely online.

Established in 1934, Lower Columbia College today serves a student population of more than 4,000 each year and offers over 70 programs across 15 areas of study. Students can earn an associate or bachelor of applied science degree or an occupational certificate in computer science, arts and communication, criminal justice and healthcare, among others. The college also maintains workforce education and corporate training programs and offers noncredit transitional studies and enrichment learning opportunities to members of the larger community.

Lower Columbia College currently partners with four institutions (Grand Canyon, Warner Pacific, Washington State, and Western Governors universities) that have agreed to offer some of their undergraduate and graduate programs at the on-campus Regional University Center. Students who meet the admission requirements of the four-year institution they wish to attend can earn a bachelor's or master's degree without relocating. Current areas of study include digital design, business administration, nursing, accounting, and special education.

Close to 11,000 credit-seeking students currently attend Clark College , which was founded in 1933. First-generation college students make up 76% of the college's total enrollment roster. Clark College offers more than 100 programs across six pathways, including public service, society, and education; business and entrepreneurship; advanced manufacturing; and science, technology, and engineering. The college also offers a pre-college program (transitional studies), adult education classes, and workforce training opportunities.

Clark College maintains direct transfer agreements (DTA) with 25 four-year colleges and universities that facilitate the transfer of its graduates to their bachelor's programs. In general, a Clark College student who completes an associate of arts DTA degree can transfer to a participating school with a junior status. The DTA does not cover all associate programs offered at the college. Some of the participating institutions include Brigham Young University, Warner Pacific College, and St. Martin's University. Transfer students must meet any other admission criteria required by the receiving college or university.