Bellevue College
Rolling
Acceptance rate
$29,583
Tuition/yr
10,000
Enrollment
About Bellevue College
Community college near Seattle, WA. Strong tech, healthcare, and business programs preparing students for PNW job market.
Bellevue College is a public, open-access institution founded in 1966 in Bellevue, Washington, a city in the greater Seattle metropolitan area. It enrolls over 20,000 students and hosts 938 international students from 55 countries, ranking No. 12 nationally among associate-level colleges for international student enrollment per the 2024–25 Open Doors report.
The college offers 15 bachelor's degrees, 32 associate degrees, and 70 certificate programs. Academic strengths include Computer Science (with a Data Science track), Cybersecurity, Business Management and Technology, Applied Accounting, and Nursing. Its associate transfer pathway is a well-used route to four-year universities across Washington State, including the University of Washington.
Bellevue's campus sits in one of the most active tech employment corridors in the United States, with major employers such as Microsoft, Amazon, and T-Mobile headquartered nearby. The college holds regional accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) and has been recognized as the top-ranked public college in Washington for return on investment.
Campus & Location
WA
Suburban
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
All graduates from CRICOS-registered programs qualify for 12-month Optional Practical Training (OPT). STEM-designated programs (CS, Engineering, Data Science, Mathematics, Sciences) qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension — 36 months total of US work authorisation.
For Nepali students
- Bellevue College's location in the Seattle–Bellevue tech corridor gives international students, including Nepalis, direct access to internship and entry-level opportunities at major tech employers; graduates in STEM fields are eligible for the 12-month OPT period plus a 24-month STEM OPT extension, totalling up to 36 months of US work authorization.
- Tuition for international students is lower than at most four-year US universities, with associate-level programs estimated at approximately $29,583 per year (2025–26), and the open-admission policy removes the barriers of competitive selection.
- The BC Foundation Scholarship program is open to international students and awards multiple scholarships of $1,000–$3,000 each through a single application, which can meaningfully offset costs for Nepali students managing tight budgets.
- The college's strong associate-to-bachelor transfer infrastructure and in-house bachelor's programs in CS and cybersecurity make it a practical two-stage pathway, start at lower community-college tuition, then transfer to a University of Washington or Washington State University at junior level.
Admission requirements — Nepali equivalents
A rough translation of the published minimums for Nepali applicants:
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