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Colleges in and near Ames Lake

Bellevue College is 9.5 miles from Ames Lake

No college sits inside Ames Lake’s boundary, but Bellevue College’s campus in Bellevue, with 6,973 students on campus, is 9.5 miles from the center of town, and Cascadia College is 13.9 miles away in Bothell. About 3% of Ames Lake’s residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Washington (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Ames Lake. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
8
21,958 students on campus
Nearest college
9.5 mi
Bellevue College
Residents in college
3%
About the same as WA (6%)
Nearest community college
13.9 mi
Cascadia College · $5,157 tuition
Nearest public university
9.5 mi
Bellevue College · $4,436 in-state
Median household income
$250K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Ames Lake

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college 9.5 miles awayBellevue College has 6,973 students on campus in Bellevue, 36% of whom graduate within six years.In-state price at Bellevue CollegeLiving in Washington, Bellevue College charges $4,436 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $10,502. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.A community college 13.9 miles awayCascadia College in Bothell: tuition and fees $5,157 a year for Washington residents.Students are 3% of residentsAbout the same as Washington (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Ames Lake

Three private colleges within 11.1 miles, three public colleges within 13.8 miles, and two community colleges.

5 mi10 mi15 miBellevue CollegeUniversity of Washington-Bothell CampusLake Washington Institute of TechnologyAmes Lake
University or collegeCommunity college
Bellevue CollegeUniversity or college · Public · 6,973 on campus · 9.5 mi · Bellevue$11knet price36%graduate$56kearningsDigiPen Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · For-profit · 1,093 on campus · 9.6 mi · Redmond64%admitted$44knet price61%graduate$80kearningsLake Washington Institute of TechnologyUniversity or college · Public · 2,567 on campus · 10.8 mi · Kirkland$7knet price37%graduate$51kearningsNorthwest UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 988 on campus · 10.9 mi · Kirkland83%admitted$22knet price71%graduate$55kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended EducationUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 735 on campus · 11.1 mi · Kirkland$36knet price50%graduate$55kearningsEarnings are reported for all 2 campuses that file with it.University of Washington-Bothell CampusUniversity or college · Public · 5,676 on campus · 13.8 mi · Bothell91%admitted$12knet price65%graduate$78kearningsEarnings are reported for all 3 campuses that file with it.Cascadia CollegeCommunity college · Public · 1,528 on campus · 13.9 mi · Bothell$12knet price32%graduate$54kearningsTuition and fees: $5,157 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Renton Technical CollegeCommunity college · Public · 2,398 on campus · 14.2 mi · Renton$8knet price46%graduate$50kearningsTuition and fees: $6,308 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Ames Lake’s median household income ($250,001) falls.

Renton Technical College14.2 mi · Renton · sticker $17,585 · tuition $6,308$16,335a year
Lake Washington Institute of Technology10.8 mi · Kirkland · sticker $16,339$16,339a year
Bellevue College9.5 mi · Bellevue · sticker $20,309$19,973a year
Cascadia College13.9 mi · Bothell · sticker $21,077 · tuition $5,157$21,077a year
University of Washington-Bothell Campus13.8 mi · Bothell · sticker $26,908$25,993a year
Northwest University10.9 mi · Kirkland · sticker $50,501$28,570a year
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education11.1 mi · Kirkland · sticker $40,568$40,245a year
DigiPen Institute of Technology9.6 mi · Redmond · sticker $55,588$52,617a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college within 15 miles of Ames Lake: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Bellevue CollegeDigiPen Institute of TechnologyLake Washington Institute of TechnologyUniversity of Washington-Bothell CampusRenton Technical College
Bellevue College36% graduate$56k earnings$12k typical debt
University of Washington-Bothell Campus65% graduate$78k earnings*$15k typical debt
Lake Washington Institute of Technology37% graduate$51k earnings$15k typical debt
Renton Technical College46% graduate$50k earnings$8k typical debt
Cascadia College32% graduate$54k earnings$6k typical debt
DigiPen Institute of Technology61% graduate$80k earnings$27k typical debt
Northwest University71% graduate$55k earnings*$21k typical debt
Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education50% graduate$55k earnings*$21k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: Northwest University (2); Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education (2); University of Washington-Bothell Campus (3).

Questions about college near Ames Lake

Is Ames Lake a college town?

No. About 3 of every 100 Ames Lake residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), about the same as Washington (6). The nearest campus, Bellevue College, is 9.5 miles away in Bellevue.

What colleges are near Ames Lake?

8 colleges are within 15 miles. The largest: Bellevue College (9.5 miles, 6,973 students on campus), the University of Washington-Bothell Campus (13.8 miles, 5,676) and Lake Washington Institute of Technology (10.8 miles, 2,567).

What is the closest community college to Ames Lake, and what does it cost?

Cascadia College in Bothell, 13.9 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,157 a year for Washington residents; the federal net price, $12,281, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Bellevue College cost if we live in Washington?

Tuition and fees are $4,436 a year in-state and $10,502 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,500 (under $30,000 income) to $19,973 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Ames Lake. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →