Last Updated: Monday August 03, 2026  ·  Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard Nov 2025
Columbia Basin College (CBC) — Acceptance Rate and Admission Requirements
Public Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities Pasco, Washington

Columbia Basin College (CBC) Acceptance Rate, GPA, and Admission Requirements

📍 Pasco, Washington 99301 🏛️ Main Campus 🌐 www.columbiabasin.edu/

Columbia Basin College — Admission Snapshot 2026

A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application

$17,357Annual Cost
$46,680Grad Salary
24.1%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Avg Net Price
$8,302
Need-Based Aid
24.1% receive Pell

Columbia Basin College serves Washington's Tri-Cities region with comprehensive academic and workforce programs. Established in 1955, the college offers over 100 degree and certificate programs with strengths in agriculture, nursing, and advanced manufacturing. The 159-acre Pasco campus features the 'Gjerde Center' and the 'Health Science Center.'

CBC's 'Honors Program' provides enhanced academic opportunities, while its 'Workforce Education' services support career training. The college's 'Veterans Center' serves military-connected students, and its 'Early Learning Center' provides childcare. CBC plays a key role in regional workforce development.

Columbia Basin College Acceptance Rate

Columbia Basin College (CBC) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.

What to Expect

  • Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
  • Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.

Selectivity at a Glance

Open Enrollment
Columbia Basin College Selectivity Meter
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)

Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.

Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).

Columbia Basin College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026

Columbia Basin College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.

Key Admission Dates

🔄
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime

CBC reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.

Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.

Check Your Admission Chances at CBC

Admission Chance Predictor

Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Columbia Basin College's verified institutional data

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Calculating Profile...

Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.

Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00

⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.

Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.

Columbia Basin College (CBC) Test Requirements

Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if CBC is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.

Can I Get Into CBC Without SAT or ACT?

CBC's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.

Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for CBC

Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer

Getting into CBC is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.

Prepare a Video Essay for the LPN-BSN Track - A Format Most Community College Applicants Never Encounter

CBC's LPN-BSN program uses a holistic admission scoring system that explicitly includes a video essay component, scored by nursing faculty against a formal rubric alongside your resume and cumulative GPA. Practice recording and reviewing yourself on camera well before the application deadline, since this is a genuinely unusual format most nursing applicants have never had to prepare for, and a strong candidate on paper can still underperform if unprepared for video delivery.

Highlight First-Generation Status and Informal Leadership Explicitly - The Rubric Rewards Both

CBC's holistic scoring system explicitly defines and credits categories like "first-generation college student" and both formal and informal leadership roles (team captain to unofficial team leader) as scored factors, not just traditional resume lines. If you've held an informal leadership role that never came with an official title, or you're a first-generation student, name these explicitly in your application materials rather than assuming only formal credentials count.

Apply Only If You Live Near Tri-Cities - In-Person Presence Is a Real Program Requirement

CBC's LPN-BSN program requires applicants living outside the Tri-Cities area to make arrangements to be physically present for specific program components, and clinical placements require professional attire (business dress or scrubs). If relocating or traveling regularly to Pasco isn't feasible, weigh this real logistical requirement before investing time in the application, since remote completion isn't an option for this specific track.

Budget 2-3 Study Hours Per Credit Hour Per Week - CBC States This as a Concrete Expectation, Not a Vague Warning

The program explicitly quantifies expected outside-of-class study time: roughly 2-3 hours per credit hour weekly, meaning a 5-credit course requires about 10 hours of independent study. Use this concrete number to realistically plan your work schedule and other commitments during nursing coursework, rather than underestimating the time commitment based on a general assumption about nursing school being "intensive."

Expert Insight:

Applicants sometimes assume a strong GPA alone secures a spot in CBC's LPN-BSN program - but the school's own materials describe a genuinely holistic scoring system where only the 16 applicants with the highest overall combined scores (GPA, years of LPN experience, personal history, resume, and video essay) are selected, meaning a strong GPA paired with a weak or unprepared video essay can still result in rejection despite academic qualification.

CBC Profile

Full Name
Columbia Basin College (CBC)
City
Pasco
State
Washington
ZIP Code
99301
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)

Is a CBC Degree Worth It?

Whether CBC is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.

The average household income among admitted students is $59,000, with a graduate unemployment rate of 5.23%.

How much does a degree from CBC Cost?

The sticker price is $17,357/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is closer to $8,302.

24.1% of students receive a Pell Grant and 3.5% take federal loans at CBC. File your FAFSA early and list CBC as a choice to be considered for both.

How much does a CBC Graduate earn?

Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $46,680. That's about 15% above the U.S. median graduate income.

$17,357Annual Cost
$8,302Net Price
24.1%Pell Grant
3.5%Federal Loan
$46,680Grad Salary (10yr)

Degree Programs at CBC

Bachelor Degree Programs

Associate Degree Programs

Frequently Asked Questions About CBC Admissions

Median earnings for Columbia Basin College graduates sit around $46,680 a year.

At about $17,357 a year, Columbia Basin College is on the more affordable end.

Columbia Basin College's Pell Grant rate of 24.1% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.

Columbia Basin College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.

Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.

Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.

SK

Sohaib Ahmad Khan

Sohaib Ahmad Khan is a leading career counselor and admission guidance expert who has guided over 50,000 students worldwide. He is the author of four books and developer of widely used career counseling and aptitude assessment systems. .

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