Washington Community Colleges
Mathematics Programs
Mathematics coursework at community colleges in this state. College algebra, precalculus, calculus, and statistics for transfer to four-year programs.
32 colleges · 726 sections · 120 unique courses · Fall 2026 · Updated today
Math is among the most consequential coursework students take at Washington community colleges — both because it gates progress into many degrees (nursing, engineering, business) and because it's the most-failed subject for community college students nationally. 32 SBCTC institutions offer 726 sections this term, from developmental algebra through Calculus III, statistics, and discrete math.
The math associate as a standalone credential is rare — most students taking lots of math at CC are using it as pre-engineering, pre-CS, pre-actuarial, or pre-finance preparation. Compare colleges below by section availability (especially calculus, which not every CC offers locally) and online vs in-person options.
Colleges offering Mathematics
Pick a college to see its full plan — every required course, which ones transfer to the school you want, and what’s open now.
Mathematics is a transfer program — community colleges offer the coursework; you earn the degree, and its earnings, at a four-year university. See where it transfers →
Mathematics Availability Snapshot
How mathematics sections are being offered across 32 colleges in Washington this term (726 sections total).
Delivery format
- in person308 (42%)
- hybrid286 (39%)
- online132 (18%)
When sections meet
- Morning (before noon)243
- Afternoon (noon–5 PM)94
- Evening (5 PM and after)30
- Asynchronous / TBA359
Start dates
Sections begin on 8 distinct dates. 1 late-start more than two weeks after the term's earliest start.
Instructor diversity
Taught by 303 distinct instructors across 32 colleges.
Degree requirements by college
Expand a college to see the courses required for graduation. Data sourced from each college's official catalog.
Bellevue College12 programs
Centralia College2 programs
Clark College1 program
Edmonds College1 program
Term 1 (18 credits)
18 credits- ELEC XXXCareer and College Successnot offered+ plan
- STEM 100 - Career and College Success: STEM8 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXCommunication Skillsnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXQuantitative Analysis/Symbolic Reasoning Skillsnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXHumanities Distribution (choose one)not offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXModern Language 5.0-7.0 credits - discuss with advisor to determine how many quarters of foreign language are requirednot offered+ plan
Term 2 (15 credits)
15 credits- ELEC XXXCommunication Skillsnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXNatural Science Distributionnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXSocial Science Distribution (choose one)not offered+ plan
- SOC 115 - The Sociology of Gender: CDnot offered+ plan
- DIVST 115 - The Sociology of Gender: CDnot offered+ plan
- SOC 150 - Health in Society: CD1 section+ plan
- DIVST 151 - Health in Society: CD1 section+ plan
Term 3 (15 credits)
15 creditsTerm 4 (15 credits)
15 creditsTerm 5 (15 credits)
15 credits- ELEC XXXHumanities Distribution (choose one)not offered+ plan
- ART 128 - Survey of Western Art: Modernnot offered+ plan
- MUSC 101 - Music Fundamentals I2 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXNatural Science Distributionnot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXSpecified Electivenot offered+ plan
- MATH 271 - Differential Equations1 section+ plan
Term 6 (15 credits)
15 credits- ELEC XXXGeneral Electivenot offered+ plan
- MATH 272 - Linear Algebra1 section+ plan
- ELEC XXXGeneral Electivenot offered+ plan
- ELEC XXXGeneral Elective (choose one)not offered+ plan
- CS 115 - Principles of Computer Science6 sections+ plan
- ELEC XXXChoose courses not yet taken from this program mapnot offered+ plan
Source: College catalog
Green River College3 programs
Olympic College1 program
Courses to Consider
Fall - First Year
Spring - First Year
Fall - Second Year
Winter - Second Year
Source: College catalog
Pierce College District3 programs
Renton Technical College1 program
Shoreline Community College1 program
General Education Requirements - 20 Credits
20 creditsSee catalog for course list
Communication (10 Credits)
10 creditsSee catalog for course list
Multicultural Understanding (5 Credits)
5 creditsSee catalog for course list
Quantitative/Symbolic Reasoning (5 Credits)
5 creditsSee catalog for course list
Distribution Requirements - 45 Credits
45 creditsSee catalog for course list
Humanities (15 Credits)
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Natural Sciences (15 Credits)
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
Social Sciences (15 Credits)
15 creditsSee catalog for course list
General Electives - Minimum 25 Credits
25 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Skagit Valley College1 program
Spokane Community College1 program
.
Plan all required coursesQuarter 1
Quarter 2
Quarter 3
Quarter 4
Quarter 5
Quarter 6
Source: College catalog
Tacoma Community College1 program
Mathematics Specialization Requirements (35 credits)
Distribution Requirements (60 credits)
5 creditsSee catalog for course list
Electives (25 credits)
Multicultural Course (5 credits)
5 creditsSee catalog for course list
Source: College catalog
Yakima Valley College1 program
Common Mathematics courses
- MATH 98Essentials of Intermediate Algebra(37 sections)
- MATH 99Intermediate Algebra(37 sections)
- MATH 97Algebra for Precalculus(37 sections)
- MATH 46Co-requisite Support Course for MATH& 146 Statistics(31 sections)
- MATH 72Algebra II Supported [RE](28 sections)
- MATH 95Elements of Intermediate Algebra(27 sections)
- MATH 70Algebra II [RE](25 sections)
- MATH 87Math in Society Corequisite(21 sections)
- MATH 96Pre-Algebra(19 sections)
- MATH 41Pre-Algebra 1(19 sections)
- MATH 147Business Precalculus(16 sections)
- MATH 93Algebra Review(15 sections)
Frequently asked questions
- Which math classes count for a four-year college?
- College Algebra, Trigonometry, Precalculus, Statistics, Calculus I/II/III, and Differential Equations transfer cleanly to Washington four-year programs. Developmental math (pre-algebra, basic algebra) doesn't transfer but is often required to enter college-level math. Take the placement test before enrolling; many Washington colleges now offer accelerated pathways that skip much of the developmental sequence.
- Can I take Calculus at a community college and transfer it cleanly?
- Yes — Calculus I, II, and III at any SBCTC college articulate to the standard calculus sequence at Washington four-year programs. This is one of the strongest CC value propositions: same content as the four-year, smaller class sizes, much lower tuition. Many engineering and physics majors intentionally take calculus at CC before transferring.
- What can I do with a math associate degree?
- Standalone: not much directly — entry roles for math-heavy careers (actuarial, statistician, data analyst) require a bachelor's. The associate is most valuable as the lower-division foundation for transfer to math, engineering, computer science, economics, or finance bachelor's programs.
- How do I know which math course to start with?
- Washington community colleges use placement tests (Accuplacer, ALEKS, multiple-measures placement) or your high-school transcript GPA + most-recent math grade to place you. Most colleges allow you to challenge a higher placement. Talk to a math advisor before your first semester — placing too low costs time and tuition; placing too high causes a failed course.
Compare Mathematics programs in other states
Same comparison view, different state systems. Useful if you’re considering an out-of-state community college or just want to see how Washington’s mathematics programs stack up.
Other programs in Washington
Some programs may not be offered at every college — pages render only when the program meets a coverage threshold for the state.