Central Washington University vs. CBC

Deciding between Central Washington University and Columbia Basin College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Central Washington University
Columbia Basin College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA
  • CBC Pasco, WA
  • Setting
  • Central Washington University Distant Town
  • CBC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Central Washington University 10,811
  • CBC 7,510
  • Type
  • Central Washington University Public 4 Year
  • CBC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Central Washington University #621
  • CBC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Central Washington University -
  • CBC -
  • Status
  • Central Washington University Non-profit
  • CBC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Central Washington University
  • CBC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Central Washington University $9,417
  • CBC $6,555
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Central Washington University $27,526
  • CBC $8,668
  • Room & Board
  • Central Washington University $16,480
  • CBC $11,222
  • Average Net Price
  • Central Washington University $19,898
  • CBC $10,656
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University $8,816
  • CBC $7,367
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Central Washington University 85%
  • CBC 76%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Central Washington University 8,919
  • CBC -
  • Admitted
  • Central Washington University 8,082
  • CBC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Central Washington University 90.6%
  • CBC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Central Washington University 20%
  • CBC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Central Washington University 1040
  • CBC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Central Washington University 20
  • CBC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Central Washington University 3.08
  • CBC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Central Washington University B
  • CBC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Central Washington University Very Easy
  • CBC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Central Washington University
  • CBC
  • ACT Range
  • Central Washington University 17/24
  • CBC
  • SAT Range
  • Central Washington University 930/1150
  • CBC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Central Washington University Test-free
  • CBC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027
  • CBC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Central Washington University 15:1
  • CBC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Central Washington University
    • Business (29%)
    • Education (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • CBC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
    • Health Professions (27%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (4%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (2%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • CBC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Central Washington University $47,800
  • CBC $38,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Central Washington University 60%
  • CBC 48%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Central Washington University $20,737
  • CBC $10,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Central Washington University $214
  • CBC $108

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Central Washington University 44%
  • CBC 43%
  • % Women
  • Central Washington University 56%
  • CBC 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Central Washington University Medium
  • CBC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Central Washington University No
  • CBC No
  • % White
  • Central Washington University 59%
  • CBC 53%
  • % Asian
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • CBC 2%
  • % Black
  • Central Washington University 4%
  • CBC 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Central Washington University 14%
  • CBC 35%
  • % Native American
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • CBC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Central Washington University 1%
  • CBC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Central Washington University 7%
  • CBC 4%
  • % International
  • Central Washington University 3%
  • CBC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Central Washington University 9%
  • CBC 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Central Washington University 94%
  • CBC 95%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Central Washington University 6%
  • CBC 5%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • CBC No
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Central Washington University No
  • CBC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • CBC No
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Central Washington University No
  • CBC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Central Washington University Yes
  • CBC No

Comparable Facts

Compare Central Washington University in Ellensburg, WA with Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Central Washington University is larger than CBC based on total student enrollment (10,811 students vs. 7,510 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Central Washington University is located in Ellensburg, WA (Distant Town setting); Columbia Basin College is in Pasco, WA (Small City setting).
  • Central Washington University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Columbia Basin College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Central Washington University 15:1; Columbia Basin College 20:1.

Central Washington University vs. CBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or CBC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia Basin College than Central Washington University ($10,656 vs. $19,898).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia Basin College are 31.9% lower than at Central Washington University ($11,222 vs. $16,480).
  • Central Washington University is 43.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than CBC (about $2,862 more per year; $9,417.00 vs. $6,555.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 217.6% higher at Central Washington University than at Columbia Basin College (about $18,858 more per year; $27,526.00 vs. $8,668.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Central Washington University than at Columbia Basin College (85% vs. 76%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 19.7% larger than aid received by Columbia Basin College students ($8,816 vs. $7,367).

Central Washington University vs. CBC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or CBC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CBC and Central Washington University.

  • Columbia Basin College reports an open admissions policy.
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Washington University 930/1150.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Central Washington University 17/24.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Central Washington University - Test-free; CBC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Central Washington University Mar 1, 2027.

Central Washington University vs. CBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Central Washington University and CBC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than CBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,800 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia Basin College graduates have a $10,237 lower median loan debt than Central Washington University graduates ($10,500 vs. $20,737).
  • Among borrowers, CBC graduates have an estimated $106 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Central Washington University graduates ($108 vs. $214).
  • More Central Washington University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CBC students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 48%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.