Big Bend Community College
- Graduation Rate
- 39% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $43,814 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $12,210 B-
- 29% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 1,272
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 23.7× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $23.7 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,106,356.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Graduation of 39% — 31% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $23.7 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Big Bend Community College Matters
Big Bend Community College is a public community college in Moses Lake, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Setting
- Town
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Education, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Big Bend Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $12,210 a year after grants and scholarships — 29% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $43,814 ten years after enrolling — 7% above the typical college, against $9,166 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 42% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.08 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of around 1,272 students, Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake, WA, caters to individuals seeking a practical education that can lead directly to career opportunities. This college attracts students interested in programs like Humanities, Mechanic & Repair Tech, Education, Business & Marketing, and Health Professions. Those who thrive here often value a hands-on approach and the chance to gain skills applicable in various fields.
Graduating from Big Bend can lead to solid earning potential, with alumni reporting an average income of $43,814 a decade after completing their studies. The college's affordability is another important aspect, especially for students receiving Pell Grants, who make up 35% of the student body. This support can help ease the financial burden and promote upward mobility for graduates, even if specific mobility rates aren't available.
When it comes to the financial side, the net price after aid is approximately $12,210, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. With a median debt of $9,166, students leave with a relatively low financial burden, allowing them to focus on their new careers rather than being weighed down by large loans. This environment is particularly suited for those who are driven and ready to take the next steps in their professional lives.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Big Bend Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Big Bend Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Big Bend Community College, located in Moses Lake, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 97%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,944
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 15:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.61
- First-Gen Students
- 53%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Big Bend Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Big Bend Community College is $5,619, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,210. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,060 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,166 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $5,059
- Out-of-State
- $5,619
- Avg Net Price
- $12,210
- Median Debt
- $9,166
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 7%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $10,060
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $11,464
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $14,011
- Family Income $110K+
- $19,828
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Big Bend Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Big Bend Community College report median earnings of $43,814, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $35,267
- 8 Years
- $40,037
- 10 Years
- $43,814
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 48%
Earnings Trajectory
How Big Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Big Bend Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Big Bend Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $12,210/year ($48,840 total). Graduates earn $43,814 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,155,196 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,106,356 (23.7× your investment). The median debt is $9,166, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 39% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $48,840
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,155,196
- Net Return
- $1,106,356
- ROI Multiple
- 23.7×
- Cost Per Year
- $12,210
- Median Debt
- $9,166
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 39%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Big Bend Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Big Bend Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.62%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.62%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 12.3%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 13.1%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $64,400
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $2,853,143
- Federal Grants
- $2,045,793
Top Programs
The fields Big Bend Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 34%
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 22%
- Education 13%
- Business & Marketing 12%
- Transportation 7%
- Health Professions 7%
- Computer Science & IT 2%
- Precision Production 1%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Big Bend Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPetroleum Engineer$135,690 · 2% growthResilient 72
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Big Bend Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Big Bend Community College, located in Moses Lake, Washington, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 39%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Big Bend Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Big Bend Community College is $5,619, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $12,210. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $10,060 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,166 in federal student loans.
Is Big Bend Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Big Bend Community College report median earnings of $43,814, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Big Bend Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Big Bend Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.62%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 13.1% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 12.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $64,400, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Big Bend Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Big Bend Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Big Bend Community College.
- Adams State UniversityAlamosa, CO · Close peer36% grad $44,372 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kent State University at AshtabulaAshtabula, OH · Close peer25% grad $45,388 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Kent State University at TuscarawasNew Philadelphia, OH · Close peer37% grad $45,388 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- The College of the Florida KeysKey West, FL · Close peer37% grad $42,508 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Kent State University at SalemSalem, OH · Close peer30% grad $45,388 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- West Virginia State UniversityInstitute, WV · Close peer36% grad $40,492 earn 96% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Big Bend Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Big Bend Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.08, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.05). Around 4% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note