CBC vs. OC

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA with Olympic College in Bremerton, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia Basin College is larger than OC based on total student enrollment (7,510 students vs. 5,784 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia Basin College is located in Pasco, WA (Small City setting); Olympic College is in Bremerton, WA (Small City setting).
• Columbia Basin College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Olympic College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia Basin College 20:1; Olympic College 17:1.

CBC vs. OC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CBC or OC? 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 Olympic College than CBC ($8,157 vs. $10,656).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Olympic College are 6.4% lower than at Columbia Basin College ($10,500 vs. $11,222).
• Columbia Basin College is 56.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than OC (about $2,358 more per year; $6,555.00 vs. $4,197.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.4% higher at OC than at Columbia Basin College (about $1,072 more per year; $9,740.00 vs. $8,668.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia Basin College than at Olympic College (76% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia Basin College students is 5.1% larger than aid received by Olympic College students ($7,367 vs. $7,007).

CBC vs. OC Admissions comparison

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

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CBC - Open admission; OC - Open admission.

CBC vs. OC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CBC and OC? 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 $2,400 more per year than OC graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $35,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia Basin College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than OC graduates ($10,500 vs. $12,000).
• Among borrowers, CBC graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than OC graduates ($108 vs. $124).
• More CBC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OC students, three years after graduation. (48% vs. 39%)

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.