High school students across Bellingham and Whatcom County have a free, low-pressure chance to explore their post-secondary options this fall. The Bellingham School District has announced its annual College Fair for 2026 will take place on Thursday, October 8 at Sehome High School. The event is designed to bring college and university representatives directly to Whatcom County students, allowing families to ask questions, pick up materials, and begin building a realistic picture of what comes after graduation.
What to Expect at the College Fair
College fairs typically bring together admissions representatives from a wide range of institutions, including two-year community colleges, four-year universities, technical schools, and sometimes vocational training programs. Students can visit tables, collect brochures, and have direct conversations with the people who evaluate applications at schools they are considering. For many students, a college fair is the first time they speak one-on-one with a college representative, which can demystify the application process considerably. Admissions staff at fairs are generally there to recruit, which means they tend to be approachable and willing to answer even basic questions without judgment.
The event at Sehome High School is free and open to students from across the Bellingham School District, which includes Sehome, Bellingham, and Squalicum High Schools. Parents and guardians are also welcome. Students do not need to have a specific school in mind to benefit; browsing the booths can help students who are still figuring out what kind of school or program suits them identify options they had not previously considered.
Coming prepared makes a difference. Students who bring a list of questions about financial aid, housing, class sizes, internship opportunities, or program-specific requirements tend to get more out of individual conversations than students who simply collect brochures. Bringing a notebook or using a phone to capture key details from each table helps ensure information gathered at the fair does not get lost in the weeks that follow.
For juniors, an October college fair is well-timed. Most students in their junior year are beginning to think seriously about where they want to apply, and attending a fair gives them several months to follow up with specific schools, schedule campus visits, and work on application essays before deadlines in late fall and winter. Seniors who have not yet finalized their college lists can also benefit, particularly if they are considering schools with rolling admissions or later deadlines.
Local and Regional College Options for Whatcom County Students
Whatcom County is home to several strong post-secondary institutions that are likely to be represented at the fair. Western Washington University, located on the Sehome Hill above downtown Bellingham, is the county's flagship four-year university and one of the most respected regional universities in the Pacific Northwest. WWU enrolls roughly 16,000 students and offers programs across the arts, sciences, business, and education. Its location within walking distance of downtown Bellingham gives it a character that differs significantly from isolated rural campuses, and students interested in sustainability, outdoor recreation, and a mid-sized city environment often find it a strong fit.
Whatcom Community College and Bellingham Technical College represent the two-year pathway, offering associate degrees and professional certificates in fields ranging from healthcare to automotive technology to culinary arts. Both colleges have strong transfer agreements with Washington's four-year universities, meaning students who earn an associate degree can often transfer to WWU or another state school with their general education requirements already completed. This pathway has gained significant attention in recent years as the cost difference between starting at a community college versus a four-year university has widened considerably.
Outside Whatcom County, students frequently look at Western Oregon University, University of Washington, Washington State University, and various private colleges in the Pacific Northwest. Representatives from these institutions, as well as schools from other states, typically attend regional college fairs. Students with specific academic or career interests, such as engineering, nursing, or the performing arts, may find that schools outside the immediate region offer specialized programs not available locally.
How Bellingham Schools Supports College Planning Year-Round
The College Fair is one component of a broader college and career planning system within Bellingham Public Schools. The district uses SchooLinks, a college and career planning platform that helps students track graduation requirements, explore career interests, and manage college application tasks. Counselors at each high school are also available to help students think through their options, whether they are heading toward a four-year university, a community college, an apprenticeship program, or entering the workforce directly after graduation. The High School and Beyond Planning process, required for Washington State graduation, integrates with these tools and encourages students to engage with post-secondary planning earlier than they might otherwise.
Washington State's Running Start program, which allows high school juniors and seniors to take college courses at a community college tuition-free while earning both high school and college credit, is widely used in Bellingham. Dual enrollment through Running Start means some seniors arrive at the fair having already accumulated significant college credits, which changes how they think about the next step. A Running Start student who has completed 45 college credits may be looking for a university where those credits transfer cleanly rather than starting the search from scratch.
Career and Technical Education programs at Bellingham's high schools also connect students to workforce pathways that do not always require a four-year degree. Skilled trades, healthcare, technology, and business programs at BTC and WCC are increasingly competitive options in a regional job market where employers frequently report difficulty finding qualified workers in those fields. The College Fair serves all of these students, not just those headed to traditional four-year programs.
The October 8 date gives families a full week before many early application deadlines for competitive programs begin to loom. Students who attend and connect with representatives in early October will have time to request fee waivers, arrange interviews, and finalize their lists before the heavier application season arrives in November and December. For more details on the event location and hours, check with the Bellingham School District website. Related local education coverage can be found in previous community stories here.
