Lake Washington Institute of Technology

What Lake Washington Institute of Technology does

Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) is a public technical college founded in 1949 and operating under the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges system, located on a single campus in Kirkland, WA. It is the only public institute of technology in Washington State, designated by the state legislature in 2011, and offers 13 bachelor's degrees, 42 associate degrees, and 65 professional certificates across 41 areas of study organized into seven schools of study (Business, Design, Education, Engineering and Manufacturing, Health Science, Information Technology, and Transportation Technology). The institution enrolled 5,525 students with 2,864 full-time equivalents (FTES) in academic year 2022-23, with 51% in workforce education, 22% in basic skills, 11% in academic/transfer programs, and 16% in other categories.

The college's operating model combines state-funded higher education delivery with ancillary clinical and commercial services that double as workforce training platforms. Core technology infrastructure includes Canvas LMS for course delivery, ctcLink (LionsLink) as the student information system, Okta for single sign-on, and Microsoft Teams for hybrid/online collaboration. Student services include the 2,500 sq. ft. Innovation Lab maker space with CNC mills, 3D printers, and laser cutters, TRIO support for low-income and first-generation students, The Learning Lab tutoring center (CRLA-certified through 2026), and a Library with research databases and interlibrary loan. Clinical and applied learning services include a Dental Clinic offering exams, cleanings, X-rays, and restorative procedures to the public at reduced rates; an Auto Repair Shop charging $25/hour; the Chef City Grill and LWTech Bakery operated by culinary students; and an Early Learning Center providing childcare for student-parents.

Revenue is generated through Washington State tuition guidelines (residents taking 6+ credits qualify for reduced childcare rates), SBCTC state funding allocations, and ancillary transactional fees from clinical services. The institution does not disclose revenue, and operates as a non-profit government entity governed by a Board of Trustees rather than private investors. Geographic service area spans 17 municipalities across King and Snohomish counties in the Seattle Eastside technology corridor, positioning LWTech within minutes of Microsoft, Nintendo, Google, and EvergreenHealth as primary employer partners. Marketing and student acquisition rely on community-led outreach, weekly information sessions, campus tours, an annual open house, and a presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Flickr.

Name

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Legal name

Lake Washington Institute of Technology

Website

https://lwtech.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Lake Washington Institute of Technology is a Washington State public technical college in Kirkland offering 13 bachelor's, 42 associate degrees, and 65 certificates in STEM fields, serving approximately 5,525 students annually across King and Snohomish counties.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical Higher Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Junior Colleges (611210), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD)

Keywords

• Technical higher education
• Workforce training programs
• Associate degree programs
• Bachelor's degree programs
• Professional certificates

Headquarters

HQ city

Kirkland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Public institution offering workforce education (51% of students), basic skills (22%), academic/transfer (11%), and other programs (16%). Revenue generated through tuition payments, including state-funded programs.
2. State Funding: As a public institute of technology in Washington State, LWTech receives state funding through the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges system.
3. Dental Clinic Services: The Dental Clinic provides dental care to the general public, staffed by students, licensed dentists and hygienists. Services include hygiene treatments, exams, X-rays, and restorative procedures at reduced costs compared to private practice.
4. Auto Repair Shop Services: Automotive training program that accepts limited customer work for training purposes. Charges $25/hour shop fee plus parts at list price. Only vehicles less than 15 years old are accepted for training relevance.
5. Culinary Arts Food Services: Chef City Grill restaurant operated by Culinary Arts students provides dining options. LWTech Bakery sells pastries, pies, cakes and breads from the student-run bakery. Tips and donations support culinary programs and scholarships.
6. Childcare Services: Early Learning Center provides dedicated care to children 18 months and walking up to age 6. Special reduced rates available to students taking 6 or more credits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) is the only public institute of technology in Washington State, delivering career-focused higher education through 13 bachelor's degrees, 42 associate degrees, and 65 professional certificates spanning 41 areas of study across seven schools of study (Business, Design, Education, Engineering and Manufacturing, Health Sciences, Information Technology, and Transportation Technology). The institution also operates hands-on clinical and applied learning facilities including a Dental Clinic, Auto Repair Shop, Early Learning Center, and student-run culinary operations (Chef City Grill and Bakery).

Product overview

Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) is an educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of academic programs and student services. The institution provides 12-13 bachelor's degrees, 42 associate degrees, and 65-70 professional certificates across seven schools of study (Business, Design, Education, Engineering and Manufacturing, Health Science, Information Technology, and Transportation Technology). Supporting the academic mission are student services including The Learning Lab (tutoring), TRIO support services, and the Innovation Lab maker space. Clinical and workforce training services include a Dental Clinic, Auto Repair Shop, Early Learning Center (childcare), and campus dining operated by culinary students. The institution serves approximately 5,525 students and operates from a Kirkland, Washington campus.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• 66.7% completion rate for first-time, full-time students seeking degree/certificate/transfer (spring 2001 study)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (Pressbooks)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2020LWTech joined WA State Board for Community and Technical Colleges' Pressbooks network subscription through a SPARC grant fund. Pressbooks is an eBook platform for creating and storing OER materials.
• National Science Foundation (NSF) - Optics, Photonics, and Lasers NetworkmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Sub-awardee of NSF ATE project (#1801019) funded at $500,000 for three years. LWTech worked with Principal Investigator at Irvine Valley College (CA) and five other colleges (Gallatin College MT, Spokane Community College WA, Oregon Institute of Technology, Idaho State University, Pima Community College AZ) to update Laser Technology curricula to OER.
• Achieving the Dream (OER Degree Initiative)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016LWTech was a grantee college in Achieving the Dream's OER Degree Initiative, developing a fully OER pathway for the Associate in Biology DTA/MRP degree.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor technology employer located minutes from LWTech campus. As a nearby major tech company, Microsoft represents a key employer for LWTech graduates and potential industry partnership opportunities for curriculum development and workforce pathways.
• NintendocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor gaming company located near LWTech campus in Redmond. Serves as a key employer for graduates of Digital Gaming and Interactive Media programs and potential industry partner for curriculum alignment.
• GooglecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology company with presence in Kirkland area near LWTech campus. Represents potential employment and partnership opportunities for IT and technology program graduates.
• Industry Partners (Healthcare, Technology, Gaming, Machining, Architecture, Aerospace)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding partnerships with industry leaders across multiple sectors including autobody repair, healthcare, technology, gaming, machining, architecture, and aerospace. These partnerships inform curriculum development and provide work-based learning opportunities.
• Washington State Employment Security DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSource of Industry at a Glance statistics on academic program pages, providing employment data and occupational outlook information for program decision-making.
• EvergreenHealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare provider located in Kirkland near LWTech campus, representing a key employer for Health Sciences program graduates including Nursing.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bellevue College: Public community college in Bellevue, WA, within LWTech's Eastside service area. Offers similar mix of bachelor's, associate, and certificate programs with overlapping workforce and tech-focused curricula serving the same student demographics.
• Renton Technical College: Washington State public technical college delivering associate degrees and certificates in trades, healthcare, and technology. Closest analog to LWTech's workforce education model within the state technical college system.
• Bates Technical College: Washington State public technical college serving the Tacoma area with stackable credentials in skilled trades, healthcare, and business. Comparable in scale, mission, and program mix to LWTech.
• Clover Park Technical College: Washington State public technical college in Lakewood offering associate degrees and certificates in healthcare, trades, and aviation. Direct peer within the same state technical college system.
• Bellingham Technical College: Washington State public technical college offering associate degrees and certificates in technical fields. Comparable in scale, mission, and stackable credential model within the same state system.

Regional players

• Cascadia College: Public community college in Bothell, WA, sharing LWTech's Eastside service area. Offers transfer-focused associate degrees and a smaller set of bachelor's programs, overlapping with LWTech's academic/transfer segment.
• Edmonds College: Public community college in Lynnwood, WA, within the broader King/Snohomish service area. Provides associate degrees, bachelor's programs, and workforce certificates with similar student demographics.

Broad incumbents

• Oregon Institute of Technology: LWTech's NSF ATE partner institution and a regional polytechnic offering applied bachelor's and master's degrees in technology and health. Comparable STEM-focused applied education model at a larger university scale.

Others

• Pima Community College: Arizona community college and fellow NSF ATE partner on the Optics/Photonics/Lasers network project. Comparable public community college with similar technical program portfolio.
• Irvine Valley College: California community college serving as principal investigator on LWTech's NSF ATE subnet work project. Comparable public community college with applied technology programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCqx_PeebgqtKpAoyySzigBA
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheLWTech
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/lake-washington-institute-of-technology
• Instagraminstagram.com/thelwtech
• Xx.com/TheLWTech

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Washington Institute of Technology