CBC vs. Penn College

Comparable Facts

Compare Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA with Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Columbia Basin College is larger than Penn College based on total student enrollment (7,510 students vs. 4,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Columbia Basin College is located in Pasco, WA (Small City setting); Pennsylvania College of Technology is in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting).
• Columbia Basin College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Columbia Basin College 20:1; Pennsylvania College of Technology 14:1.

CBC vs. Penn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CBC or Penn College? 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 Penn College ($10,656 vs. $23,675).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia Basin College are 12.5% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Technology ($11,222 vs. $12,818).
• Pennsylvania College of Technology is 178.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CBC (about $11,685 more per year; $18,240.00 vs. $6,555.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 199.7% higher at Penn College than at Columbia Basin College (about $17,312 more per year; $25,980.00 vs. $8,668.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia Basin College than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (76% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Technology students is 21.7% larger than aid received by Columbia Basin College students ($8,964 vs. $7,367).

CBC vs. Penn College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CBC or Penn College? 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 Penn College 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; Penn College - Open admission.

CBC vs. Penn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CBC and Penn College? 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 Pennsylvania College of Technology earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than CBC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,400 vs. $38,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Columbia Basin College graduates have a $11,000 lower median loan debt than Penn College graduates ($10,500 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, CBC graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn College graduates ($108 vs. $222).
• More Penn College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CBC students, three years after graduation. (65% 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.