The fifth largest city in the state, Bellevue is flanked by Lake Washington on its west and Lake Sammamish on its east. Downtown Bellevue is undergoing rapid growth and development. It is currently the second largest city center in Washington State behind Seattle, with over 55,000 jobs and an estimated population of just over 15,000 residents; both of these numbers are slated to grow much further in coming years. It is also considered the retail center of the area with The Bellevue Collection, one of the West Coast’s biggest shopping centers, as its centerpiece. Two floating highway bridges, Interstate 90 and Highway 520, link Bellevue to Seattle, just a 15-minute drive across Lake Washington. There are over 2,700 acres of parks and over 90 miles of trails in Bellevue, making it an outdoor lover’s paradise.
Bellevue College opened its doors in January 1966 with less than 500 students and has now grown into the third largest institution of higher learning in the state of Washington. Known for its job preparation and technology programs, Bellevue College’s current enrollment is approximately 37,000 students.