Columbia Basin College

What is the history of Columbia Basin College?

Columbia Basin College (CBC) is a public college in Pasco, Washington, founded in 1955 to expand postsecondary education in the Tri-Cities region. Its present-day role extends beyond the traditional community-college model: students can pursue transfer-oriented associate degrees, career and technical credentials, and selected applied bachelor's degrees.

That combination matters when evaluating CBC today. A student planning to transfer to a university may follow a different curriculum from someone preparing for a licensed health profession or an applied bachelor's program. The college's history of serving regional educational and workforce needs helps explain why those paths coexist, but students should judge a particular path by its current catalog requirements and transfer or licensing rules.

What are the faculties and departments at Columbia Basin College?

Columbia Basin College organizes its academics around transfer education, career and technical training, and applied bachelor's study rather than a collection of graduate schools. Its program offerings include humanities and social sciences, business, computing, education, science, and health-related fields.

Students can choose associate degrees designed for transfer, associate degrees and certificates focused on employment, and selected Bachelor of Applied Science programs. Examples of career-oriented fields include nursing, dental and allied health, information technology, and business. The distinction between credentials is consequential: an associate degree intended for transfer is not interchangeable with every occupational associate degree, and admission to a selective health program may require prerequisites beyond general college admission.

Prospective students should compare the current program catalog with their intended next step. For a transfer goal, that means checking which courses meet the destination university's requirements. For a regulated occupation, it means checking the program's admission sequence and the state's licensing requirements before enrolling.

What is the location of Columbia Basin College?

Columbia Basin College's main campus is in Pasco, one of Washington's Tri-Cities alongside Kennewick and Richland. The college also serves students through facilities and programs elsewhere in the region, so the location of a particular class or clinical experience may differ from the main campus.

The Tri-Cities setting makes commuting a practical consideration. Students should check where required courses meet, especially if a program combines classroom instruction with labs, clinical placements, or other off-campus work. Tri-Cities Airport is in Pasco and is useful for longer-distance travel; it is not a substitute for planning everyday transportation to class.

What is the mission and vision of Columbia Basin College?

Columbia Basin College's stated educational purpose centers on accessible learning, student support, and service to its regional community. Its mix of university-transfer, workforce, and applied bachelor's programs reflects that broad public-college mission.

A mission statement describes institutional priorities, not an independently measured student outcome. Applicants can assess how those priorities operate in practice by examining the advising, course schedules, support services, and program requirements relevant to them. CBC is a public institution, not a religiously affiliated college.