Public technical college in Tacoma offering hands-on career training through associate degrees and industry certifications.
Bates offers Associate of Applied Science degrees, Associate of Applied Science-Transfer degrees, Certificates of Competency, and Certificates of Training across 10 career pathways: College & Career Preparation, Advanced Manufacturing, Business and Communication, Hospitality, Education and Public Safety, Health Sciences, STEM, Transportation and Trades, Continuing Education, and Apprenticeships. The college operates on a quarter-based calendar (September to August) and emphasizes hands-on, workplace-mirrored learning environments. Programs include technical high school, Running Start, High School+, ESL, and GED preparation.
Notable programs span healthcare (Practical Nurse, Dental Assisting, Biomedical Service Technician, MRI Technology), advanced manufacturing (CNC Machining, Automation & Mechatronics), business (Accounting, Applied Business Management), hospitality (Culinary Arts), public safety (Fire Service, Public Safety Administration BAS), and skilled trades (Auto Body, Automotive Technology, Architectural Woodworking). The college also offers a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Safety Administration and Computer Information Security & IT Project Management, the only BAS in Public Safety Administration in Washington state.
Bates operates three campuses in Tacoma: Downtown Campus (1101 S. Yakima), South Campus (2201 S. 78th), and Central Campus (2320 S. 19th), totaling approximately 650,000 square feet. Facilities include modern labs, shops, and classrooms designed to mirror workplace environments. The college is constructing a new Fire Service Training Center. Campus amenities include a bookstore, on-campus barber shop, and public auto service facility.
Bates maintains partnerships with local and international businesses and industry organizations to align curriculum with workforce needs. The college hosts community events including Veterans Day Celebration, Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, and Disability Awareness Day. The college also operates KBTC-TV, a PBS member station acquired in 1992.