Bellevue College enrolled more students than any other community or technical college in Washington during the 2025-26 school year, according to a Puget Sound Business Journal ranking published Sunday, Oct. 4.

The college reported 16,815 total students and a full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment of 12,025.9, placing it first among 33 institutions statewide. Total enrollment grew 6.8% compared with the 2024-25 school year. Bellevue College also awarded 3,009 associate degrees in 2024-25, more than any of the other top-four schools in the ranking.

Two-thirds of Washington's community and technical colleges reported enrollment gains in 2025-26. Everett Community College placed second with 12,431 total students but saw a 4.2% decline.

Green River College in Auburn ranked third at 10,432 students with 6.3% growth. Edmonds College in Lynnwood came in fourth with 12,188 students and the strongest growth rate among the top four at 11.2%.

The No. 1 enrollment ranking is the second statewide recognition for Bellevue College in recent weeks.

In a Sept. 9 college newsroom post celebrating a separate honor, Newsweek's No. 1 ranking for women's colleges in Washington, President David May said the college is "committed to providing the support, resources, and opportunities that help our students reach their full potential."

Bellevue College is a public, open-admission institution serving students across Seattle's Eastside and the Puget Sound region's technology corridor. It employs 245 full-time instructors and 1,322 total employees.

The college was founded in 1966, opening at Newport High School with about 500 students, according to 425 Business. Sixty years later, the campus is still growing. Bellevue College broke ground on the W Building, a 56,618-square-foot arts hub with workshops and a makerspace, expected to open in winter 2027.