CBC vs. NCA

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA with Northwest College of Art & Design in Tacoma, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia Basin College is larger than NCA based on total student enrollment (7,510 students vs. 139 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia Basin College is located in Pasco, WA (Small City setting); Northwest College of Art & Design is in Tacoma, WA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Columbia Basin College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northwest College of Art & Design is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia Basin College 20:1; Northwest College of Art & Design 34:1.

CBC vs. NCA Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CBC or NCA? 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 NCA ($10,656 vs. $14,818).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia Basin College are 27.1% lower than at Northwest College of Art & Design ($11,222 vs. $15,384).
• Northwest College of Art & Design is 176.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CBC (about $11,545 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $6,555.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 108.8% higher at NCA than at Columbia Basin College (about $9,432 more per year; $18,100.00 vs. $8,668.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwest College of Art & Design than at Columbia Basin College (87% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northwest College of Art & Design students is 95.5% larger than aid received by Columbia Basin College students ($14,406 vs. $7,367).

CBC vs. NCA Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CBC or NCA? 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 NCA and CBC.

• Columbia Basin College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CBC - Open admission; NCA - Test-free.

CBC vs. NCA Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CBC and NCA? 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 Columbia Basin College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than NCA graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $29,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia Basin College graduates have a $20,500 lower median loan debt than NCA graduates ($10,500 vs. $31,000).
• Among borrowers, CBC graduates have an estimated $212 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NCA graduates ($108 vs. $320).
• More CBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NCA students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 47%)

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.