CBC vs. Seattle Central

Comparable Facts

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

Columbia Basin College is larger than Seattle Central based on total student enrollment (7,510 students vs. 5,396 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CBC vs. Seattle Central Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CBC or Seattle Central? 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 Seattle Central ($10,656 vs. $11,187).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia Basin College are 41.1% lower than at Seattle Central College ($11,222 vs. $19,041).
• Columbia Basin College is 26.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Seattle Central (about $1,371 more per year; $6,555.00 vs. $5,184.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 50.9% higher at CBC than at Seattle Central College (about $2,923 more per year; $8,668.00 vs. $5,745.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Columbia Basin College than at Seattle Central College (76% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia Basin College students is 8.3% larger than aid received by Seattle Central College students ($7,367 vs. $6,805).

CBC vs. Seattle Central Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CBC or Seattle Central? 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 Seattle Central 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; Seattle Central - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Seattle Central Aug 31, 2027.

CBC vs. Seattle Central Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CBC and Seattle Central? 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 Seattle Central graduates about ten years after starting college ($38,200 vs. $35,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Seattle Central College graduates have a $610 lower median loan debt than CBC graduates ($9,890 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, Seattle Central graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CBC graduates ($102 vs. $108).

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.