Do Students Succeed at Bates Technical College?
Explore what happens after enrollment at Bates Technical College — completion, transfer, and outcome statistics.
Student Success at Bates Technical College at a Glance
Bates Technical College is a public institution offering four year or above programs located in Tacoma, WA. Current enrollment is 4,083 students.
- 43.4% overall graduation rate (IPEDS)
- 38.1% of all entering students earn their award within 8 years
- 79% of exiters from its largest program (Advanced Phlebotomy) were employed within 6 months — verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
- DOL-verified median earnings of $8,622 per quarter after exiting Advanced Phlebotomy
- 891 graduates across 122 programs in 2025
- VA-approved for GI Bill benefits
Program-Level Results · Verified by the U.S. Department of Labor
Verified Program Outcomes
Completion and employment results reported to the U.S. Department of Labor for Bates Technical College programs on the state Eligible Training Provider List. Missing values ("—") mean the state suppressed or did not report that metric — they never mean zero.
| Program | Completion rate | Employed 6 mo after exit | Employed 1 yr after exit | Median quarterly earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced Phlebotomy | 82% | 79% | 84% | $8,622 |
| Phlebotomy | 82% | 79% | 84% | $8,622 |
| Fire Recruit Academy | 69% | 90% | 93% | $19,061 |
| Fire Service | 69% | 90% | 93% | $19,061 |
| Wildland Firefighter | 69% | 90% | 93% | $19,061 |
| Early Childhood Education/Child Care | 78% | 77% | 74% | $8,970 |
| State Early Childhood Education | 78% | 77% | 74% | $8,970 |
| Practical Nurse | 85% | 80% | 91% | $11,573 |
| Diesel Engines | 70% | 59% | 79% | $9,851 |
| Diesel & Heavy Equipment Technician | 70% | 59% | 79% | $9,851 |
| Diesel Service Technician | 70% | 59% | 79% | $9,851 |
| Heavy Duty Truck Drive Trains | 70% | 59% | 79% | $9,851 |
| Truck and Heavy Equipment Electrical Systems | 70% | 59% | 79% | $9,851 |
| Commercial Truck Driving | 21% | 61% | 75% | $10,897 |
| Commercial Truck Driving Class B | 21% | 61% | 75% | $10,897 |
| Barber | 67% | 47% | 52% | $8,333 |
| Electrical Construction | 81% | 75% | 69% | $9,901 |
| Heating, Ventilation, A/C & Refrigeration Technician | 42% | 81% | 81% | $9,836 |
| HVAC/R Support Technician | 42% | 81% | 81% | $9,836 |
| Nursing Assistant Certified | — | 80% | 100% | $7,597 |
| Welder | 48% | 77% | 69% | $10,113 |
| Welder I | 48% | 77% | 69% | $10,113 |
| Welder II | 48% | 77% | 69% | $10,113 |
| Welding | 48% | 77% | 69% | $10,113 |
| Cybersecurity | 71% | 67% | 83% | $4,948 |
| Broadcasting/Video Production | 44% | 91% | 86% | $8,195 |
| Broadcast & Video Elements | 44% | 91% | 86% | $8,195 |
| Accounting | 64% | 63% | 67% | $12,532 |
| Biomedical Service Technician | 95% | 60% | 57% | $9,888 |
| Bookkeeping | 64% | 63% | 67% | $12,532 |
| Mechanical Engineering Technology | 44% | 57% | 50% | $10,906 |
| Software Development | 31% | 73% | 74% | $3,367 |
| Culinary Arts | 56% | 40% | 45% | $6,509 |
| Hospitality-Line Cook | 56% | 40% | 45% | $6,509 |
| Information Technologies Specialist | 67% | — | 74% | — |
| Information Technology Specialist | 67% | — | 74% | — |
| Information Technology Support | 67% | — | 74% | — |
| Automation and Mechatronics | 79% | — | 82% | — |
| Chassis and Electrical | 74% | 31% | 50% | $7,538 |
| Dental Assisting | 89% | 80% | 77% | $7,198 |
| Electrical Certificate of Training | 74% | 31% | 50% | $7,538 |
| Engines and Electrical E/E | 74% | 31% | 50% | $7,538 |
| Motorcycle and Marine Technology | 74% | 31% | 50% | $7,538 |
| Occupational Therapy Assistant | 94% | 79% | 88% | $6,343 |
| Certified Medical Assistant | 50% | 78% | 90% | $7,049 |
| Cloud Computing and Networking Technology | 60% | — | 56% | — |
| Machinist | 40% | 73% | 78% | $10,242 |
| Administrative Business Assistant | 64% | 44% | 50% | $4,439 |
| Applied Business Management | 64% | 44% | 50% | $4,439 |
| Auto Body Rebuilding & Refinishing | 78% | 43% | 64% | $5,964 |
| Auto Body Repair | 78% | 43% | 64% | $5,964 |
| Automotive Refinishing | 78% | 43% | 64% | $5,964 |
| Civil and Environmental Engineering Technology | 44% | 83% | 71% | $10,636 |
| Dental Lab Technician | 63% | 80% | 78% | $5,820 |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, WIOA participant outcomes (trainingproviderresults.gov), PY 2023.
College-Wide Statistics · IPEDS Federal Survey
What Are the Student Outcomes at Bates Technical College?
Unlike the program-level results above, the figures below cover all students at Bates Technical College, tracked over eight years by the federal IPEDS survey.
Overall Completion Rate
38.1%
Working Student Success
28.2%
Transfer Out Rate
16.5%
Still Enrolled Rate
0.3%
How Bates Technical College Compares
Bates Technical College's 38% completion rate is right in the typical band for trade and vocational schools — most peer institutions land somewhere in the 30–50% range. Another 17% transfer out and 0% remain enrolled; these together usually account for the bulk of the cohort, with only a smaller share leaving without a clear next step.
What Happens After Students Enroll at Bates Technical College?
Eight-Year Student Outcomes
Eight-year outcomes for students who entered Bates Technical College. This shows what happened to students in their cohort by the end of the tracking period.
Understanding These Outcomes
Completed: Students who earned a certificate, diploma, or degree from this institution.
Still Enrolled: Students who remain enrolled at this institution after the tracking period.
Transferred Out: Students who transferred to another institution and may have completed there.
No Award: Students who left without earning a credential and are not enrolled elsewhere.
Combined completion and transfer rate of 57.6% indicates strong student success pathways.
These outcomes track what happened to students eight years after they first enrolled. Completion rates include certificates, diplomas, and degrees earned at this institution. Transfer rates show students who continued their education at other colleges. Understanding these pathways helps prospective students set realistic expectations and plan their educational journey.
What Are the Transfer and Continuation Patterns at Bates Technical College?
Success Rates by Student Entry Pathway
Comparing completion rates across different student entry pathways helps understand which groups succeed and how transfer experience impacts outcomes.
Key Insights
Transfer students outperform first-time students by 13.0 percentage points, suggesting the institution provides strong support for transfer pathways and recognizes prior learning effectively.
Combined 14.5% transfer-out rate suggests this institution may serve as a stepping stone for students continuing their education elsewhere.
Cohort Composition
Understanding Student Pathways
First-Time Students: Beginning postsecondary education for the first time at this institution.
Transfer-In Students: Previously attended another postsecondary institution before enrolling here.
Continuing Students: Returned to this institution after a break in enrollment.
Completion rates tracked over 8 years from initial entry.
Different student entry pathways lead to varying success rates. First-time students enter directly from high school or are starting college for the first time. Transfer students bring prior college experience and credits. Understanding these patterns helps you identify which pathway aligns best with your situation and predict your likelihood of success.
What Are the Completion Rates by Student Type at Bates Technical College?
What does this mean for you? These completion rates show how different types of students succeed at this institution. Full-time students have a higher completion rate (54.8%) compared to part-time students (28.2%). Consider your work and life commitments when deciding on your enrollment status. First-time students are those new to college, while transfer students have attended another institution before.
What Are the Cohort Outcomes Over Time at Bates Technical College?
Tracking outcomes for the 2015-16 cohort of 1,750 students
After 4 Years
After 6 Years
After 8 Years (Final)
Final Student Status
Completion Breakdown by Cohort
Full-time First-time Transfer Students
All First-time Transfer Students
Part-time First-time Transfer Students
Full-time Non-first-time Students
All Full-time Students
Full-time Non-first-time Transfer Students
Full-time First-time Students
All First-time Students
Time to Completion
About This Data
Outcome measures data tracks student cohorts over 4, 6, and 8-year periods. Data is sourced from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and reflects the most recent available reporting year.