Student Status for Financial Aid
Full-time student: student registered for 12 or more credits per quarter.
Three-quarter-time student: student registered for 9 to 11 credits per quarter.
Half-time student: student registered for 6 to 8 credits per quarter.
Less-than-half-time student: student registered for 1 to 5 credits.
Residency Requirements
A student's Washington state residency determines whether students pay resident or non-resident tuition while attending Columbia Basin College. Students seeking reclassification must submit documentation if they would like their status to be reevaluated. Documentation should be dated one year and one day prior to the start of the quarter for which a student is applying for residency status.
All residency documentation must be received prior to the 30th calendar day of the quarter for which students are seeking reclassification. Documentation received after the 30th calendar day will be considered for the following quarter and is not retroactive for prior quarters. For further information, visit the Residency webpage.
Tuition & Fees 2026-27
Rates are subject to change. Tuition is set by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, which acts upon legislative authority.
Table is for undergraduate rate (or lower-level courses) only.
| Washing- ton Resident |
U.S. Non-WA Resident |
Non-U.S. Resident & Inter- national F-1 Visa |
|
| Per Credit Charges: | |||
| State Tuition & Fees | |||
| Credits 1 to 10 | 136.14 | 203.20 | 350.12 |
| Credits 11 to 18 | 67.18 | 75.93 | 75.93 |
| Credits 19+ | 122.14 | 184.30 | 336.12 |
| CBC Compre-hensive Fee | 4.00 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| CBC Instruct- ional Support Fee |
9.00 | 9.00 | 9.00 |
| CBC Tech- nology Fee |
6.89 | 6.89 | 6.89 |
| Average Per Credit: | 156.03 | 223.09 | 370.01 |
| Per Quarter Charges: | |||
| AUD, HUB, Safety & Security, Rec Center Fee | 82.50 | 82.50 | 82.50 |
| Total Charges per Credit: | |||
| 1 | 238.52 | 305.59 | 452.51 |
| 2 | 394.56 | 528.68 | 822.52 |
| 3 | 550.59 | 751.77 | 1192.53 |
| 4 | 706.62 | 974.86 | 1562.54 |
| 5 | 862.65 | 1197.95 | 1932.55 |
| 6 | 1018.68 | 1421.03 | 2302.56 |
| 7 | 1174.71 | 1644.12 | 2672.57 |
| 8 | 1330.74 | 1867.21 | 3042.58 |
| 9 | 1486.77 | 2090.30 | 3412.59 |
| 10 | 1642.80 | 2313.39 | 3782.60 |
| 11 | 1729.87 | 2409.21 | 3878.42 |
| 12 | 1816.94 | 2505.03 | 3974.24 |
| 13 | 1904.01 | 2600.85 | 4070.06 |
| 14 | 1991.08 | 2696.67 | 4165.88 |
| 15 | 2078.15 | 2792.49 | 4261.70 |
| 16 | 2161.22 | 2884.31 | 4353.52 |
| 17 | 2244.29 | 2976.13 | 4445.34 |
| 18 | 2327.36 | 3067.95 | 4537.16 |
| 19 | 2465.39 | 3268.14 | 4889.17 |
| 20 | 2603.42 | 3468.33 | 5241.18 |
| 21 | 2741.45 | 3668.52 | 5593.19 |
| 22 | 2879.48 | 3868.71 | 5945.20 |
CBC's BAS program costs may vary; please visit the Tuition and Affordability webpage for program-specific tuition and fees.
The above schedule of tuition and fees includes comprehensive, instructional support and technology fees as well as special fees levied by the Associated Student Body of Columbia Basin College. Special course and/or laboratory fees may apply to certain courses and result in additional charges. See course materials for details.
Refund Policy
CBC will refund tuition and refundable fees if official withdrawal from the College or course(s) occurs within the specified timeframe listed below. Certain fees are non-refundable or refundable only if withdrawal occurs prior to the first day of instruction. The first day of instruction is defined as the first day of scheduled classes for the quarter. Instruction days are Monday through Friday. Calendar days are all days including weekend days and holidays.
| REFUNDS | CBC will refund tuition & refundable fees if official withdrawal occurs: | |
| Full Sessions | up to 100% REFUND (on or before) |
up to 50% REFUND (on or before) |
| Fall, Winter, Spring | 5th instructional day of the quarter | 6th day of the quarter and within first 20 calendar days |
| Summer | 3rd instructional day of the quarter | 4th day of the quarter and within first 15 calendar days |
| Mini-Sessions | up to 100% REFUND (on or before) |
up to 50% REFUND (on or before) |
| Half-quarter courses | 2nd day of the session | 3rd day of the session and within first 10 calendar days |
| Four-week courses | 2nd day of the session | 3rd day of the session and within first 7 calendar days |
| Three-week courses | 1st day of the session | 2nd day of the session and within first 5 calendar days |
| Two-week courses | 1st day of the session | 2nd or 3rd day of the session |
| One-week or less courses | Before 1st day of the session | On 1st day of the session |
Refund Exceptions
Non-Refundable Fees
The Auditorium/HUB/Safety & Security/Recreation Center fee, per-credit comprehensive fee, lab fees and any additional specialized course and class fees are not refundable unless withdrawal occurs prior to the first day of instruction.
Small Balance Refund Amount
No refund checks will be processed for credit balances that are less than $5. These refunds are held until they are above $5, or applied to future balances.
Special Courses
The refund policy may not apply to contract classes, continuing education classes, workshops or other courses on special schedules.
Student Balance and Collections Process
All student accounts are required to be paid in full each quarter by tuition deadline or within 24 hours if enrollment takes place after tuition deadline. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that their account is current and that payments are made by the published deadlines. Registration for subsequent quarters will be restricted and accounts may be held if previous balance is not paid in full.
If a student fails to make payments and their balance is past due, their account may be forwarded to an outside collection agency.
Student Financial Responsibility Agreement (SFRA)
The Student Financial Responsibility Agreement (SFRA) is a required agreement that outlines financial obligations and responsibilities while attending Columbia Basin College and is completed each year in ctcLink by selecting “Holds.”
Most students enrolling in courses that charge tuition and/or fees will need to complete the SFRA before registering for classes for the upcoming academic year. Some students may be exempt; this includes those who are younger than 18 years old and certain populations only taking Continuing Education courses.
For further information, visit the SFRA webpage.
Financial Aid
Financial Aid personnel assist Columbia Basin College students and their parents with finding funding for basic educational costs. Consumer information is available on the Student Consumer Information webpage. Financial aid programs at CBC follow policies and philosophies established nationally, statewide and institutionally. More information about the financial aid process and financial aid programs available to CBC students can be found on the Financial Aid webpage. Students receiving any type of financial aid should visit Hawk Central for specific questions about adding, dropping or withdrawing from classes before taking any such action. Federal and State regulations supersede CBC’s refund policy. Warning: withdrawal from the College may result in the student owing amounts to Federal and State financial aid programs and to CBC.
How to Apply
Students apply for financial aid by completing a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) on the FAFSA website. FAFSA applicants must be U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens (i.e., permanent
residents). Students who cannot complete a FAFSA due to not meeting citizenship requirements,
but who are Washington residents, may apply for Washington state financial aid funding
by completing the WA Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) on the WASFA website. FAFSA/WASFA applications are available every year on October 1. Students are encouraged
to apply between October and January prior to the school year they wish to attend.
To allow for processing time and financial aid funds to be available by the tuition
due date, the FAFSA/WASFA and any other required financial aid forms must be submitted
to Financial Aid/Hawk Central by:
Fall Quarter — April 15
Winter Quarter — October 15
Spring Quarter — January 15
Summer Quarter — April 15
Eligibility Requirements
FAFSA applicants must:
- Be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- Be determined to have financial need based upon congressional methodology (except for Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan and PLUS loans)
- Have a high school diploma, GED® certificate or meet home school requirements
- Be seeking one of the eligible degrees or certificates available at CBC
- Not owe a repayment on a previous federal student grant or be in default on a federal student loan
- Be enrolled for the eligible number of credits and be maintaining satisfactory progress according to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy available on the Satisfactory Academic Progress webpage; previous academic progress at CBC will be considered even if the student was not receiving financial aid at that time
- Not be receiving financial aid at another institution at the same time
- Sign a statement on the FAFSA stating that student aid will be used only for educational purposes
WASFA applicants must:
- Have graduated from high school with a diploma, earned a GED® or earned a diploma equivalent
- Be a Washington state resident — lived in Washington for at least one year (12 consecutive months) before enrolling at CBC
- Be determined to have financial need based upon information provided on the WASFA
- Be seeking one of the eligible degrees or certificates available at CBC
- Not owe a repayment on a previous Washington state student grant
- Be enrolled for the eligible number of credits and be maintaining satisfactory progress according to the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy available on the Satisfactory Academic Progress webpage; previous academic progress at CBC will be considered even if the student was not receiving financial aid at that time
- Not be receiving financial aid at another institution at the same time
Financial Aid Programs
Students will be considered for all aid programs for which they are eligible and for which funding is available. Financial aid programs fall into four categories: grants, scholarships, loans and employment.
Grants
Pell Grant
Federal grant program for undergraduate students with financial need.
Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
Federal aid program for students with exceptional need. Must be eligible for a Pell
Grant.
Washington College Grant
Washington state program for resident students who meet financial criteria and are
enrolled in at least three credits.
College Bound Scholarship
Washington state program that guarantees state financial aid for resident students
who applied for this scholarship in middle school, currently meet financial need and
academic criteria and are enrolled in at least three credits.
Columbia Basin College Grant
A state-funded institutional grant for resident students with demonstrated need.
Opportunity Grant
A state-funded grant for residents who are enrolled in an eligible program of study
and meet the financial need criteria. For more information, visit the Opportunity Grant webpage.
Early Achiever’s Opportunity Grant
A state-funded grant for eligible residents who are enrolled in the Early Childhood
Education program.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded by organizations based on a variety of criteria. Visit the Scholarships webpage for details.
Loans
Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
Federal need-based loan program with deferred payment and low interest (rate is set
annually). Must be enrolled in at least six credits. Currently, the maximum amount
is $3,500 for first-year students and $4,500 for second-year students. If accepted
into one of CBC's bachelor's degree programs, the maximum amount for third- and fourth-year
students is $5,500.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
Non-need-based loan for students. Must be enrolled in at least six credits. Interest
is charged from the time the loan is disbursed.
Federal Plus Loan
Non-need-based federal loan program for parents of undergraduate, dependent students.
Alternative Loan
Non-need-based private loans based on criteria determined by individual lending institutions.
Types of Student Employment at CBC
On-Campus
- Federal Work Study
- CBC Non-Work Study
- Athletic Scholarships through the Athletic Department
- Summer Student Employment
Off-Campus
- State Work Study
While State Work Study is non-CBC employment, it is an opportunity for CBC students to work off-campus for employers in the community, and in jobs related to the student’s major and/or career goals. The Financial Aid office assists student workers interested in placement for off-campus employment, though students apply through the CBC online application system. For more information, or to apply, visit the Student Employment webpage.
Criteria for Work Study
(Refer to Financial Aid Programs for more detail)
Student workers under Federal or State Work Study must be enrolled in at least six
degree-required credits during each quarter of employment (fall, winter and spring).
Student workers must be enrolled in at least five degree-required credits during summer
quarter.
Worker Retraining
A state-funded tuition assistance program for eligible students. Priority is given to students who are currently receiving unemployment benefits or who have exhausted those benefits within the last four years. See the Worker Retraining section under Student Resources in this catalog for specific details or go to the Worker Retraining webpage to determine eligibility.
Veterans Benefits
Veterans, service members and family members eligible to use educational benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs must meet with the Veterans school certifying official located in the H Building on the Pasco campus. To schedule an appointment, call 509-542-4880 or email veterans@columbiabasin.edu.
Veterans, service members and family members may be eligible for a state tuition waiver. Please contact the V.E.T.S. Center to learn more.