Central Washington University vs. CBC

Should I go to Central Washington University or Columbia Basin College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central Washington University or CBC is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Central Washington University vs. Columbia Basin College comparison
Central Washington University Columbia Basin College College 3 College 4
Central Washington University Columbia Basin College
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Overview

Central Washington University CBC
Location Ellensburg, WA Pasco, WA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 8,796 6,729
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #667
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cwu.edu columbiabasin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central Washington University CBC
Tuition (In State) $7,021 $5,514
Tuition (Out of State) $24,600 $7,559
Room & Board $16,314 $10,450
Avg Net Price $15,558 $10,348
Avg Grant Aid $8,970 $6,754
% Receiving Grant Aid 90% 60%

Admission

Central Washington University CBC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,829 -
Admitted 6,161 -
Acceptance Rate 90.2% Open
Enrolled % 25.5% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.08 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025

Academics

Central Washington University CBC
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 19:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (4%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (51%)
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (4%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (2%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

Central Washington University CBC
% Men 2% 21%
% Women 3% 17%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 53%
% Black 4% 1%
% Hispanic 14% 35%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 1% 0%
% Two or More Races 7% 4%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 9% 4%

Students

Central Washington University CBC
% In-State 93% 93%
% Out-of-State 6% 7%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Central Washington University is larger than than CBC based on total student enrollment (8,796 students vs. 6,729 students)

Central Washington University vs. CBC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central Washington University or CBC?

  • Central Washington University is 27.3% more expensive to attend than CBC for in-state tuition ($7,021.00 vs. $5,514.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 225.4% higher at Central Washington University than Columbia Basin College ($24,600.00 vs. $7,559.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Columbia Basin College than Central Washington University ($10,348 vs. $15,558)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia Basin College are 56.1% lower than costs at Central Washington University ($10,450 vs. $16,314)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Central Washington University than Columbia Basin College (90% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Washington University students is 32.8% larger than aid received Columbia Basin College ($8,970 vs. $6,754)

Which college is harder to get into, Central Washington University or CBC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CBC or Central Washington University .

Central Washington University vs. CBC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central Washington University or CBC? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between CBC and Central Washington University.

  • Graduates from Central Washington University earn on average $9,600 more per year than CBC graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $38,200)
  • Columbia Basin College students graduate with a $10,237 lower median federal student loan debt than Central Washington University graduates. ($10,500 vs. $20,737)
  • CBC graduates are paying $106 less per month on federal student loans 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/