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Key Takeaways
2 cybersecurity programs from 2 public and 0 private institutions
2 schools physically in Bellingham, plus 0 within 50 miles. Tuition ranges from $3,633 (Whatcom Community College) to $7,997 (Western Washington University).
Median cybersecurity salary: $142,920, 14% above the national median
Security engineers earn up to $154,354, while cybersecurity managers command $207,234 in the Bellingham metro area. Source: BLS OEWS Washington state median, May 2024.
An estimated 180 open cybersecurity positions in the Bellingham metro area
Washington has 12,500 total cybersecurity openings, 1% concentrated in the Bellingham metro. Nationally, 26% of cybersecurity roles remain unfilled.
1 NSA Center of Academic Excellence designated school
Whatcom Community College hold NSA/DHS CAE designation, the federal benchmark for cybersecurity education. CAE students may qualify for CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service (full tuition + stipend).
Updated June 28, 2026
How we ranked Bellingham, Washington Cybersecurity programs
We rank 2 accredited cybersecurity programs in Bellingham, Washington using IPEDS 2024 institutional data, BLS OEWS 2024 state salary data, and College Scorecard outcomes. A 4-factor weighted composite is normalized to a 0–100 score. Schools cannot pay for placement; rankings are produced algorithmically.
Cybersecurity Degree Rankings in Bellingham, Washington
Compare the top-ranked Cybersecurity programs in Bellingham, Washington by degree level. Tuition, graduation rate, and Hakia Score for every accredited program.
Best Associate's Cybersecurity Programs in Bellingham, Washington
Hakia ranks 1 accredited associate's cybersecurity program within 50 miles of Bellingham, 1 public institution. 1 is physically located in Bellingham, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include Whatcom Community College. Tuition for associate's programs ranges from $3,633 to $3,633 per year. Community colleges offer the most affordable entry into cybersecurity, and many have articulation agreements with nearby four-year universities for seamless credit transfer. Students can complete foundational coursework in networking, operating systems, and security fundamentals while earning industry certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CySA+. Graduates with a associate's degree in cybersecurity from Bellingham-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $92,898 to $111,478 in the local market, with roles such as SOC analyst, IT security technician, or network security associate. The Bellingham metro area has an estimated 180 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033. Whatcom Community College holds NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation at this level, the federal benchmark for cybersecurity education. CAE students may qualify for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, covering full tuition plus a stipend.
Show all 10 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Peninsula College | Port Angeles, WA | Public | $4,205 | 37% | 70.2 |
| #7 | Olympic College | Bremerton, WA | Public | $4,197 | 31% | 69.4 |
| #8 | Edmonds College | Lynnwood, WA | Public | $4,206 | 29% | 69.2 |
| #9 | Spokane Falls Community College | Spokane, WA | Public | $4,772 | 32% | 66.6 |
| #10 | Lower Columbia College | Longview, WA | Public | $4,206 | 23% | 60.6 |
Best Bachelor's Cybersecurity Programs in Bellingham, Washington
Show all 7 ranked programs
| Rank | School | Location | Type | Tuition | Grad Rate | Hakia Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #6 | Columbia Basin College | Pasco, WA | Public | $5,875 | 33% | 67.8 |
| #7 | Clover Park Technical College | Lakewood, WA | Public | $5,740 | 43% | 67.0 |
Best Master's Cybersecurity Programs in Bellingham, Washington
Hakia ranks 1 accredited master's cybersecurity program within 50 miles of Bellingham, 1 public institution. 1 is physically located in Bellingham, with the rest accessible via short commutes. The top-ranked programs include Western Washington University. Graduate tuition ranges from $7,997 to $7,997 per year. Master's programs take 18-24 months and focus on advanced topics like threat intelligence, security architecture, risk management, and leadership, designed for professionals looking to move into senior technical or management roles. Average completion rate: 99%. Graduates with a master's degree in cybersecurity from Bellingham-area schools can expect starting salaries in the range of $154,354 to $174,362 in the local market, with roles such as security engineer, security architect, or cybersecurity consultant. The Bellingham metro area has an estimated 180 open cybersecurity positions, and the BLS projects +33% job growth through 2033.
University of Washington-Bothell Campus
Why Study Cybersecurity in Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is home to a growing cybersecurity education ecosystem with 2 accredited programs across 1 associate's, 1 master's degree levels within 50 miles. 2 of these institutions are physically located in Bellingham, with the remaining schools accessible via short commutes from surrounding communities in the Bellingham metro area.
1 school near Bellingham holds NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation: Whatcom Community College. The CAE program, jointly sponsored by the NSA and DHS, certifies schools whose cybersecurity curricula meet rigorous federal standards aligned with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework. Students at CAE-designated schools may qualify for the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program, which covers full tuition plus a $25,000-$34,000 annual stipend in exchange for government service after graduation.
The Bellingham metro area cybersecurity job market is substantial, with an estimated 180 open positions and a median salary of $142,920 for information security analysts (BLS OEWS May 2024). The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +33% job growth for cybersecurity roles through 2033, making it one of the fastest-growing occupations in the U.S. economy. For students in Bellingham, this translates to strong local hiring prospects upon graduation.
Among the top-ranked programs, Western Washington University tops the master's programs. See our complete rankings below for detailed program comparisons across all degree levels.
Median Cybersecurity Salary in Bellingham
Cybersecurity Salaries by Role: Bellingham vs. National Average
| Role | Bellingham Metro | National Median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security Analyst | $125,770 | $109,921 | +14% |
| Penetration Tester | $135,774 | $118,665 | +14% |
| Security Engineer | $154,354 | $134,903 | +14% |
| Security Architect | $174,362 | $152,390 | +14% |
| Cybersecurity Manager / CISO | $207,234 | $181,120 | +14% |
Source: BLS OEWS Washington state median, May 2024. Role estimates derived from BLS SOC 15-1212 median.
Cybersecurity Salaries in Bellingham: What to Expect by Role
Cybersecurity professionals in the Bellingham metro area earn a median salary of $142,920, which is 14% above the national median of $124,910 (BLS OEWS May 2024, SOC 15-1212: Information Security Analysts). This positions Bellingham as one of the highest-paying metro areas for cybersecurity talent in the country.
Entry-level security analysts in Bellingham can expect starting salaries around $125,770, making cybersecurity one of the highest-paying entry points in the tech sector. With 2-5 years of experience, penetration testers, who simulate cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities, earn approximately $135,774. Senior technical roles like security engineers command $154,354, while security architects who design enterprise defense systems earn up to $174,362.
At the management level, cybersecurity managers and CISOs in the Bellingham metro area can earn $207,234 or more, a 65% premium over entry-level positions. This career trajectory from analyst to manager spans 8-12 years, with certifications like CISSP (82,494 openings nationally), CompTIA Security+ (70,019 openings), and CISA (52,337 openings) significantly accelerating advancement and salary growth.
Security clearances provide an additional salary boost of approximately $25,000 per year. Professionals with Top Secret/SCI clearances can earn between $104,000 and $185,000 nationally, making this a particularly lucrative path for graduates near Bellingham. For a deeper dive into cybersecurity compensation trends, see our Cybersecurity Analyst Salary Guide. You can also explore related fields like Information Security and Network Administration for adjacent career paths.
Top Cybersecurity Employers in Bellingham
The Bellingham cybersecurity job market spans 3 major sectors, with employers actively recruiting for roles ranging from entry-level SOC analysts to senior security architects. Here are the key employers driving cybersecurity hiring locally:
Government
Western Washington University. Campus IT security and research operations serving the Bellingham region.
Bellingham Technical College. IT security programs and campus infrastructure protection.
Technology
Amazon. Regional operations and logistics network security presence in northern Washington.
Healthcare
Providence Health. Local healthcare cybersecurity operations protecting patient information systems.
These employers represent a cross-section of the Bellingham metro area area's cybersecurity hiring market. Many maintain partnerships with local universities for internships, co-ops, and direct hiring pipelines, making a degree from a Bellingham-area school particularly valuable for breaking into the field.
Notable Cyber Incidents Affecting Bellingham Organizations
Notable Cyber Incidents in the Bellingham Area
Cyber threats aren't abstract risks for Bellingham, they have directly impacted local organizations, showing the urgent need for trained cybersecurity professionals in the Bellingham metro area:
Washington State Education System (2023), phishing. Targeted credential harvesting attacks affecting multiple K-12 and higher education institutions statewide.
Western Washington University (2022), data breach. Student and employee records exposed through vulnerable web application affecting campus community.
These incidents represent just a fraction of the cyber threats facing Bellingham-area organizations. According to CyberSeek data, the Bellingham metro area has an estimated 180 open cybersecurity positions, and the nationwide supply-to-demand ratio stands at just 74%, meaning roughly one in four cybersecurity roles goes unfilled. For students considering a cybersecurity degree, these real-world incidents demonstrate that the skills learned in programs near Bellingham directly translate to preventing and responding to threats that affect their own community.
Cybersecurity Job Market in the Bellingham metro area
The cybersecurity job market in the Bellingham metro area reflects a broader national talent crisis. Washington has approximately 12,500 open cybersecurity positions (CyberSeek, January 2026), with an estimated 180 concentrated in the Bellingham metro area. Nationally, there are 514,359 unfilled cybersecurity roles across the United States, and the workforce gap continues to widen, the global shortfall reached 4.8 million positions in 2024, a 41% increase since 2022.
The supply-to-demand ratio for cybersecurity talent nationally is approximately 74%, meaning for every 100 cybersecurity jobs posted, only about 74 qualified candidates are available. This ratio has been declining steadily (from 116% in 2020 to 74% in 2025), which means cybersecurity graduates face increasingly favorable job prospects. For Bellingham students specifically, this translates to strong local hiring demand and competitive starting salaries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +33% growth in information security analyst employment through 2033, compared to just 4% for all occupations. This makes cybersecurity the 6th fastest-growing occupation in the United States. Within Washington, the combination of growing digital transformation across industries is driving sustained demand for cybersecurity talent.
Most in-demand certifications that complement a cybersecurity degree from Bellingham schools include CISSP (82,494 job postings nationally), CompTIA Security+ (70,019 postings), and CISA (52,337 postings). Many of the top-ranked programs near Bellingham integrate certification preparation into their curricula, giving graduates a competitive edge in this seller's market. For statewide job market trends and additional programs, see our Washington Cybersecurity Rankings.
Cybersecurity Degree Costs in Bellingham
Cybersecurity degree programs near Bellingham range from $3,633/year at Whatcom Community College to $7,997/year at Western Washington University.
Return on investment is compelling: with a median cybersecurity salary of $142,920 in the Bellingham area versus a high school diploma median of $42,000 (BLS 2024), a four-year bachelor's degree at a typical tuition rate (approximately $23,260 total) can be recouped in roughly 0.2 years of the annual salary premium. Community college cybersecurity programs offer an even faster path, a two-year associate's degree for as little as $7,266 provides foundational credentials for entry-level SOC analyst or IT security roles paying $107,190+.
Ways to reduce costs: Federal financial aid (FAFSA), Washington state grants, institutional scholarships, and cybersecurity-specific funding like the CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service program (full tuition + $25,000-$34,000 annual stipend). Many employers in the Bellingham area also offer tuition reimbursement for employees pursuing cybersecurity degrees, check with local employers listed in our employer section above.
Cybersecurity Degree Programs in Bellingham: Frequently Asked Questions
How many cybersecurity degree programs are available in Bellingham, Washington?
What's the average cybersecurity salary in Bellingham?
How many cybersecurity jobs are available in Bellingham?
Which Bellingham schools have NSA Center of Academic Excellence (CAE) designation?
Can I earn a cybersecurity degree online from Bellingham schools?
Data Sources
U.S. Department of Education institutional data: enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, and institutional characteristics for all Title IV schools
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics for Information Security Analysts (SOC 15-1212). National median: $124,910.
Cybersecurity workforce supply and demand data powered by CompTIA and NICE. Washington: 12,500 openings. National: 514,359 openings, 26% vacancy rate.
National Centers of Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity program designations. 1 designated school near Bellingham.
Last Updated: June 26, 2026. Rankings based on IPEDS 2024 institutional data. Salary data from BLS OEWS May 2024 release. Job market data from CyberSeek (January 2026). NSA CAE designations verified as of February 2026.
Taylor Rupe
Co-founder & Editor (B.S. Computer Science, Oregon State • B.A. Psychology, University of Washington)
Taylor combines technical expertise in computer science with a deep understanding of human behavior and learning. His dual background drives Hakia's mission: leveraging technology to build authoritative educational resources that help people make better decisions about their academic and career paths.