General Admission to CBC
Admission Information
Columbia Basin College maintains an open-door admission policy and grants admission to applicants who are at least 18 years of age and/or have graduated from high schools accredited by a regional accrediting association or have a GED® certificate.
CBC has four quarters: fall, winter, spring and summer. Students may begin any quarter.
High school students who are juniors or seniors may be eligible to attend CBC through the Running Start program. For more information and eligibility requirements, please visit the Running Start webpage.
High school students who are in the 9th or 10th grade, who have an unusual or extenuating educational need, may be considered for underage admission. Contact the Student Records office for the underage admissions policy and procedure.
Admission to CBC does not guarantee admission to all degree or certificate programs. In addition, some programs have special applications and admission procedures and limited entry dates. Students should consult the individual program and/or department for admission requirements.
How to Apply for General Admission
Applicants must complete and submit an Application for Admission by the quarterly deadline. When an applicant’s file is complete, the applicant will receive notification of acceptance via email with further enrollment instructions.
Processes such as admission to certain programs may be delayed without transcripts from prior schools.
High school transcripts generally are not required from applicants 18 years of age or older. However, some degree programs require a high school transcript as part of the admission criteria and for evaluation of prerequisites. Refer to the individual program and/or department for specific program requirements.
Placement
Placement into math, reading and English is required for degree- and certificate-seeking students. Columbia Basin College offers multiple options for students to meet placement requirements. For more information, please visit the Placement webpage. Additionally, students who have prior college-level English or math classes may submit an official transcript(s) to Student Records to determine placement results.
If you need accommodations for placement testing based on a disability, please contact
Disability Support Services at 509-542-4412 or the Washington State Relay Service
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 800-833-6384.
Admission to CBC's Bachelor's Degree Programs
Applicants who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Applied Science degree must satisfy one of the following conditions at the time of program start date to become eligible:
- Have earned at least an associate (AA, AS, AAS) degree from an accredited institution (see the list of approved accrediting agencies under the Transfer Information section of this catalog)
- Have completed a minimum of 90 college-level credits from an accredited institution (see the list of approved accrediting agencies under the Transfer Information section of this catalog)
Applicants who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN-BSN) degree must have completed an associate degree in Nursing. Applicants who wish to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (LPN-BSN) degree must have completed a Licensed Practical Nurse certificate or degree.
Check with the program for specific admission requirements and prerequisites. Program information is available on the BAS webpage.
International Student Admission
Columbia Basin College welcomes qualified international students.
Admission requirements:
- International Student Admission Application and additional documentation
- Official language proficiency scores
- Copy of high school diploma
- Official college/university transcripts, if applicable
In addition to the above requirements, international students transferring from another school in the United States must also submit the following:
- Official college/university transcripts
- Copy of all previously issued I-20 forms
- CBC F-1 Transfer-In form
If all the admission requirements are satisfied and the student is admitted to CBC, an I-20 for F-1 student status will be issued.
International students must enroll for 12 credits each quarter and maintain a 2.0 GPA or better. International students are allowed to take one quarter off per academic year, designated as summer quarter at CBC. Visit the International Student webpage for more information if you are interested in starting summer quarter.
All international students are required to have health insurance. Students must purchase insurance through Washington State Colleges or provide proof of equivalent insurance from their own country.
International students are not eligible for federal/state student financial assistance. They may be eligible for some scholarships and private loans. Opportunities for on-campus employment are extremely limited.
International students are not eligible to work off-campus except in some very special circumstances; they should assume no money or employment will be available from the College while they are attending CBC.
Further information and appropriate forms may be obtained on the International Student webpage.
Admission to ELA (English Language Acquisition)
The English Language Acquisition (ELA) program provides six levels of English language instruction to immigrants and refugees for a tuition fee of $25 per quarter, but students may be eligible for a waiver of the tuition fee. Students are tested to determine their speaking, listening, reading and writing skills prior to being placed into an appropriate class. Depending on levels and time of day, classes are held on the main Pasco campus. CBC offers courses focused on workplace skills and provides support to ELA students enrolled in vocational programs. Students under 19 years of age are required to obtain permission from their high school in order to participate in ELA classes at CBC. For more information, contact the Transitional Studies Division at 509-542-4701.
Admission to High School Programs
Admission to Running Start
Running Start is a program created by the Washington State Legislature to provide
high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to enroll in college classes that will
meet high school graduation requirements, as well as apply toward a college degree.
Students are eligible for up to 19-20 tuition-free college credits per quarter based
on how many classes they are taking at their high school. They are, however, required
to pay lab and comprehensive fees, books, supplies and transportation costs. Students
who take classes below college level are charged full tuition and fees.
To be admitted into the program, students can utilize one of CBC's placement options
and test or place into college-level reading, English or math. Students who qualify
should meet with their high school counselors to determine high school graduation
requirements. Running Start students who fall below a cumulative GPA of 2.0 must enroll
in HDEV 102 during the subsequent quarter.
Eligible Running Start students must complete and submit:
- A CBC Running Start admission application (after student qualifies)
- A Running Start Enrollment Verification form (every quarter)
Admission to High School Completion Program
The High School Completion program is offered for individuals 19 years or older and for those whose high school class has graduated. The purpose of this program is to help students complete their high school education by earning a diploma.
Applicants must submit a completed Application for Admission with all official high school transcripts attached and take the placement test. For more information, contact the Transitional Studies Division at 509-542-4701.
Anyone whose high school class has not graduated, who has not earned a GED® or who is between 16 and 18 years of age, must submit a High School Release form.
CTE Dual Credit & College in the High School
CTE Dual Credit and College in the High School programs allow high school students the opportunity to earn college credit while meeting a high school graduation requirement at the same time. Students participate in approved classes in their home high school or at Tri-Tech Skills Center. The courses are taught by qualified high school teachers who work closely with faculty mentors to ensure the high school curriculum is of college rigor and aligns to a similar course taught on campus.
Columbia Basin College currently offers the CTE Dual Credit program locally and accepts transfer credit from other community colleges and universities who offer the College in the High School program. Students can accelerate their academic and career pathways through the use of these programs. CTE Dual Credit-approved courses are career and technical education courses and College in the High School courses are academic. Both programs offer students rigorous and challenging coursework that will assist them in their transition to postsecondary education and training.
Upon successful completion of meeting all CTE Dual Credit eligibility requirements, the equivalent CBC course will be transcribed as "Credit for Prior Learning" in accordance with the guidelines established by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, to the students' transcript with the College's course title and number, just as it appears in the catalog. Grades will be awarded for college credit (and posted to the college transcript) using CBC's grading scale and may be slightly different than the high school grade awarded. CTE Dual Credit and College in the High School credits awarded by CBC count toward the minimum residency requirement. For students transferring credit earned through College in the High School from other institutions, their credit will be evaluated by the Student Records office and posted to their CBC transcript.
For more information about either dual-credit program, please contact the Director for K-12 Partnerships at 509-542-4640.
Admission to ABE/GED®
(Adult Basic Education or General Educational Development)
The Adult Basic Education or General Educational Development (ABE/GED®) program offers classes to qualifying students who left high school without receiving a diploma, or are in need of improved skills prior to enrollment in college-level classes for a tuition fee of $25 per quarter. Students may qualify for a tuition waiver. Students are assessed and attend a program orientation prior to being placed in a class. Classes are held on the main Pasco campus and at various sites around our service district. Students under 19 years of age are required to obtain permission from their high school in order to participate in ABE/GED® classes at CBC. For more information, contact the Transitional Studies Division at 509-542-4701.
Candidates requiring accommodations for the GED® examination are encouraged to contact the Pearson Vue Accommodations Team at 877-392-6433 or email accommodations@GEDtestingservice.com. Individuals participating in GED® classes at CBC who require accommodations may contact Disability Support Services at 509-542-4412 or the Washington Relay services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 800-833-6384.
Admission to High School Academy
The High School Academy (HSA) program is offered for students ages 16 to 20 years of age who have disengaged with their high school or are at risk of disengagement. HSA is a re-engagement program for at-risk/disengaged youths who seek to complete a high school diploma.
Interested students must submit a completed HSA referral packet to the participating school district of Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, Finley or Columbia Burbank. Included in the packet is a CBC Application for Admission that must also be completed.
Once the student referral packet is processed and approved, the student will be expected to:
- Attend an interview with the Dean for Transitional Studies and an HSA faculty member
- Submit an official transcript
- Meet with the Dean for Transitional Studies to complete a transcript evaluation
- Complete the placement test for placement purposes
- Attend a mandatory orientation
For general information about the HSA program, contact the HSA office at 509-542-4442.
Admission to High School+ (HS+)
High School+ (HS+) is a competency-based high school equivalency program for adult learners age 18 and older who do not have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. For the quarterly tuition of $25, students work to demonstrate competencies in reading, writing and math and complete needed credits. The quarterly tuition of $25 may be waived for some students.
To participate in the program, students must submit their official high school transcripts to the Transitional Studies Division and complete the required assessments. Students also complete an intake interview prior to admittance. For more information, contact the Transitional Studies Division at 509-542-4701.
Admission to Open Doors
Open Doors is a free high school completion program for eligible youth 16 to 20 years of age who are deficient in high school credits. Students enroll in Transitional Studies classes to work toward earning a GED® and/or high school diploma. Open Doors is a competency-based program, which is modeled after the High School+ program. Students meet graduation requirements by their home school district through high school coursework and/or prior learning gained from work and life experience. The student's home high school awards credit based on competencies earned at Columbia Basin College Open Doors and issues the high school diploma. For more information, contact the Transitional Studies Division at 509-542-4701.
Gold Card Admission
A reduced tuition rate is available to individuals 60 years or older who wish to take classes without credit (audit). Registration is available at Hawk Central.
Registration:
- Gold Card members may register on the third day of the quarter on a space available basis and may not overload a class.
- Gold Card members may not register for class(es) at the state tuition rate in order to reserve a space and then change to the reduced Gold Card tuition rate. Gold Card members registering at the state tuition rate will be charged full tuition and WILL NOT qualify for the Gold Card tuition rate for the course ID that was reserved for the current quarter.
- Gold Card members are eligible to register for up to two courses per quarter.
- Gold Card members must be Washington state residents.
Fees:
- Gold Card members will pay all applicable course fees, lab fees and other charges as appropriate.
For more information, please visit Hawk Central in the H Building.