Public
Accredited · Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
The Dalles, Oregon
Columbia Gorge Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$18,278Annual Cost
$44,440Grad Salary
21.5%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Avg Net Price
$10,550
Need-Based Aid
21.5% receive Pell
Columbia Gorge Community College is a public institution in Oregon that serves its scenic region with a diverse range of associate degrees, transfer pathways, and vocational programs. The college is noted for its personalized approach to learning, supportive faculty, and responsiveness to the local economy. With a focus on student-centered services, it provides an affordable and high-value foundation for those aiming to transfer to four-year universities or acquire practical, job-ready skills.
Columbia Gorge Community College Acceptance Rate
Admission at Columbia Gorge Community College is inclusive by design. 100% of applicants who meet basic eligibility are accepted.
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
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier. A solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Check Your Admission Chances at Columbia Gorge Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Columbia Gorge Community College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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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 Gorge Community College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Columbia Gorge Community College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Columbia Gorge Community College Without SAT or ACT?
Columbia Gorge Community College'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 Columbia Gorge Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
Getting into Columbia Gorge Community College is the easy part. What matters next is using placement testing, advising, and available resources to set up a strong first year.
Ask specifically about the Metallica All Within My Hands Foundation scholarship if you're in a trades program
CGCC has a five-year, named partnership with Metallica's All Within My Hands Foundation supporting scholars specifically in Advanced Manufacturing/Fabrication, Aviation Maintenance Technology, Construction Technology, and Electro-Mechanical Technology. If you're pursuing any of these four specific tracks, ask financial aid about this named scholarship by title rather than assuming general institutional aid covers it - it's a distinctive, program-specific award most applicants don't know to request.
If you're interested in teaching, ask about the new Bachelor of Applied Science in Education (BASE) pathway before assuming you need to transfer out
CGCC's Board approved pursuit of an applied bachelor's degree in education (BASE) in July 2025, explicitly designed to address Oregon's teacher shortage via a flexible cohort model for students who've completed an Associate of Arts. This is still pending Oregon HECC approval, so confirm current status directly with CGCC before building a four-year plan around it, but if you want to stay local through a bachelor's degree, this is a genuine emerging option worth tracking closely rather than assuming you must transfer to a four-year school for teacher certification.
Choose your campus (The Dalles vs. Hood River) based on your specific program, not just convenience
CGCC operates a full 62-acre campus in The Dalles and a smaller auxiliary building 20 miles away in Hood River - program availability and course scheduling can differ by site. Confirm with your program advisor which location actually offers your intended courses in person before committing to a residence or commute plan, since the Hood River site is explicitly described as auxiliary rather than a full mirror of The Dalles.
If pursuing Aviation Maintenance Technology, plan around its distinct lab/equipment-based scheduling, not general open admission timing
Aviation is one of CGCC's flagship technical programs and typically runs cohort-based scheduling tied to aircraft/lab access rather than the general open-door rolling admission that applies to most other programs. Contact the Aviation program coordinator directly (not just general admissions) to confirm the next cohort start date and any program-specific prerequisites before assuming you can start "any time."
Expert Insight:
Because CGCC is genuinely open-admission ("fill out an application, and you're accepted"), students may assume every program follows the same casual timeline - but technical/lab-based programs like Aviation Maintenance and the four Metallica Foundation scholarship tracks run on cohort schedules with real capacity limits, so treat those specifically as requiring earlier planning than the general open-door process implies.
Columbia Gorge Community College Profile
Full Name
Columbia Gorge Community College
City
The Dalles
State
Oregon
ZIP Code
97058
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
Is a Columbia Gorge Community College Degree Worth It?
Whether Columbia Gorge Community College 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.
How much does a degree from Columbia Gorge Community College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $18,278/year at Columbia Gorge Community College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land closer to $10,550.
At Columbia Gorge Community College, 21.5% receive a Pell Grant and 9.1% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Columbia Gorge Community College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Columbia Gorge Community College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Columbia Gorge Community College graduates report a median income of $44,440, about 9% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at Columbia Gorge Community College
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Columbia Gorge Community College Admissions
Columbia Gorge Community College graduates earn a lower median salary of $44,440/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Columbia Gorge Community College is relatively affordable, around $18,278/year.
21.5% receive a Pell Grant here, below the ~35% national average. Columbia Gorge Community College skews toward higher-income students, though merit aid may still be worth checking.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.