Universities + Colleges
Tacoma is home to four of the region’s top-rated universities and several community colleges. With over 55,000 students attending courses at local universities and colleges, Tacoma is infused with the energy of young hipsters.
Here are some fast facts:
Bates Technical College
Bates Technical College offers two-year associate of technology degrees as well as certificates in training, industy and other specialized programs. Bates also provides continuing education courses on a variety of business related topics.
Established: 1940
Student Population: 1,500
Clover Park Technical College
Located in Lakewood, Clover Park Technical College offers training in a variety of fields from aviation to health care, computer design, cooking and welding. Its hands-on learning programs provide professional training skills to help employers and employees.
Established: 1942
Student Population: 3,500
Evergreen State College, Tacoma campus
Located in the Hilltop neighborhood of Tacoma, The Evergreen State College, Tacoma campus provides a customized liberal arts program to meet the career goals of its diverse student body.
Established: 1982
Student Population: 200
Pacific Lutheran University
Over 120 years old, Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) has a rich past with deep Scandinavian roots. In 2011, U.S. College Rankings rated PLU #13 in its list of top regional universities in the western United States. Its lush 156 acre woodland campus is located just south of the city limits.
Established: 1890
Student Population: 3,500
Pierce College
Pierce College is comprised of two campuses in Puyallup and Lakewood.
It offers two-year associate degrees and professional/technical degrees. For business owners, Pierce College provides high quality training programs in a variety of fields, including health care, nursing,
database administration and digital design.
Established: 1967
Student Population: 27,400
Tacoma Community College
Tacoma Community College (TCC) opened its doors to students in 1965. For more than 40 years, TCC has been committed to creating community within the college and supporting the community surrounding the college. TCC is part of Invista Performance Solutions, which is a collaboration among Pierce County colleges to serve the business community through a single point of contact.
Established: 1965
Student Population: 15,000
University of Puget Sound
The University of Puget Sound (UPS) is a liberal arts college located in Tacoma’s North End neighborhood, near the Proctor and 6th Avenue Business Districts. Over 75 percent of its students hail from outside Washington State. UPS has a strong tradition of social service activity and the university has consistently placed in the top 10 each year since 2001 for producing the most Peace Corps volunteers in its category.
Established: 1888
Student Population: 2,600
University of Washington Tacoma
The University of Washington Tacoma is located in the Brewery District in downtown Tacoma. Its successful conversion of old warehouses into modern classrooms and facilities has earned UW Tacoma numerous design and architectural awards and the university continues to be a key driver in downtown development.
Established: 1990
Student Population: 3,660
