Columbia Basin College
#8 Best Education Colleges in Washington- Graduation Rate
- 30% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $46,680 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $8,317 B+
- 51% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 4,640
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 36.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $36.0 over 20 years. Ranked #8 in Best Education Colleges in Washington.
Every $1 spent returns $36.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,164,631.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 30% — 47% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $36.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Columbia Basin College Matters
Columbia Basin College is a public community college in Pasco, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate College
- Enrollment
- 4,640
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Columbia Basin 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 $8,317 a year after grants and scholarships — 51% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $46,680 ten years after enrolling — 14% above the typical college, against $14,829 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.7% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 38% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.29 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
With an enrollment of about 4,640 students, Columbia Basin College in Pasco, Washington, is a great fit for those looking to dive into practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, or Computer Science. The college’s focus on hands-on learning helps students gain relevant skills, making it a solid choice for anyone aiming to enter the workforce quickly. The supportive atmosphere is beneficial for those who thrive in community-oriented settings.
After graduation, students can expect a median earning of $46,680 within ten years. This figure reflects a steady return on investment, especially when considering that the net price after aid is just $8,317. Although the graduation rate is 30%, many students find success through various pathways, often leading to upward mobility in their careers. It’s a place where hard work can translate into tangible benefits.
Looking at the numbers, the median debt stands at $14,829, which is manageable given the earnings potential. With 26% of students receiving Pell Grants, affordability is a key aspect of attending Columbia Basin College. Those who tend to thrive here are often motivated individuals ready to take advantage of the programs that align with their career goals, making it an accessible choice for many.
Rankings
- #8 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #9 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
- #18 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #19 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #21 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
- #21 Best Data Science Colleges in Washington
- #24 Best Business Colleges in Washington
- #25 Best Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Columbia Basin 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 Columbia Basin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pasco, Washington, Columbia Basin College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 98%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,413
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 19:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.62
- First-Gen Students
- 50%
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 Columbia Basin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbia Basin College is $8,668, 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 $8,317. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,010 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,829 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,555
- Out-of-State
- $8,668
- Avg Net Price
- $8,317
- Median Debt
- $14,829
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 4%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $7,010
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $7,642
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $9,595
- Family Income $110K+
- $17,228
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Columbia Basin College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Columbia Basin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbia Basin College earn a median of $46,680, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,255
- 8 Years
- $43,234
- 10 Years
- $46,680
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.32x
- Earning > $25K
- 54%
Earnings Trajectory
How Columbia 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 Columbia Basin College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Columbia Basin College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $8,317/year ($33,268 total). Graduates earn $46,680 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,197,899 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,164,631 (36.0× your investment). The median debt is $14,829, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 30% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $33,268
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,197,899
- Net Return
- $1,164,631
- ROI Multiple
- 36.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $8,317
- Median Debt
- $14,829
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 30%
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 Columbia Basin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbia Basin 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 1.74%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.5% 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 16.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.74%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 16.6%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 10.5%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $105,295
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $6,188,729
- Investment Income
- $-81,246
Top Programs
The fields Columbia Basin College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Humanities 49%
- Health Professions 15% $82,152 early-career
- Education 14%
- Business & Marketing 11% $57,348 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $61,160 early-career
- Mechanic & Repair Tech 1% $48,724 early-career
- Physical Sciences 1%
- Criminal Justice 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Columbia Basin 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
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Columbia Basin College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Pasco, Washington, Columbia Basin College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 30%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Columbia Basin College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Columbia Basin College is $8,668, 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 $8,317. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $7,010 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,829 in federal student loans.
Is Columbia Basin College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Columbia Basin College earn a median of $46,680, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Columbia Basin College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Columbia Basin 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 1.74%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 10.5% 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 16.6% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $77,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Columbia Basin College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Columbia Basin College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.29, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Columbia Basin College.
- Tacoma Community CollegeTacoma, WA · Close peer32% grad $47,168 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Red Rocks Community CollegeLakewood, CO · Close peer35% grad $46,288 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Clayton State UniversityMorrow, GA · Close peer38% grad $49,179 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Pierce College DistrictLakewood, WA · Close peer31% grad $47,532 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Seattle Central CollegeSeattle, WA · Close peer31% grad $43,307 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Columbia Basin College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Columbia Basin College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.29, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 7% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note