The Financial Aid and Student Employment office personnel are available to assist Columbia Basin College students and their parents find funding for basic educational costs. Consumer information is available in English and Spanish in the Financial Aid and Student Employment offices.
All financial aid programs at CBC follow policies and philosophies established institutionally, nationally, and statewide.
Financial aid is intended only to fill the gap between the family’s expected contribution and the student’s yearly academic expenses.
Primary Goals of Financial Aid office
- Assist students in paying for college
- Evaluate families' ability to pay for educational costs
- Distribute limited resources in an equitable manner
- Provide balance of gift and self-help aid
Financial Aid is financial assistance in the form of:
Types of Grants
(Grants are need-based and do not need to be repaid)
Federal Grants
- Federal Pell Grant - A federal need-based grant program for undergraduate students. The amount of the grant is determined by the cost of education, the estimated family contribution, and enrollment status (full, ¾, ½, or less than ½ time).
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) - A federal grant program for undergraduate students with Pell Grant eligibility based on the availability of funds at CBC. The minimum award may be $200 a year, and the maximum award may be $4,000 a year.
State Grants
- Washington State Need Grant (SNG/SSIG) - A need-based grant program for undergraduate, Washington state resident students enrolled in at least three credits.
- Opportunity Grant - Students eligible for the Opportunity Grant may receive funds to cover tuition/mandatory fees and up to $1,000 for books and supplies for 45 college credits. Support services such as tutoring, career advising, college success classes, emergency child care, and emergency transportation are also part of the Opportunity Grant program.
Institutional Grants
- CBC Grant (CBCG) - An institutional need-based grant program for undergraduate, Washington state resident students enrolled in at least 3 credits.
Waivers
- Washington State Tuition Waiver Program (TWND) - A state program to waive the payment of tuition.
- High School Completion Program - A state program with reduced tuition for high school completion.
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Employment
- Federal College Work Study (FWS) - Federally-funded program to provide employment opportunities at CBC for students with financial need. Students may work up to 19 hours per week. Employment may offer valuable career-related experience. The current wage is Washington State minimum wage. Students are paid once a month for hours worked.
- State Work Study (SWS) - State-funded program to provide employment opportunities at CBC in off-campus positions for students with financial need. Students will be placed in positions relating to their major field of study or career goals and interests. Students may work up to 19 hours per week. Off-campus wage rates are determined by the employer.
For more information about employment opportunities, visit our Student Employment web page.
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Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded through individual donors. The criteria for each scholarship is determined by the donors. To help students find scholarships, CBC maintains a list of available scholarships. Please choose the category below that applies to you.
Helpful Scholarship Links:
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Loans
- Direct Subsidized Loan- A long-term, need-based loan available to students from the U.S. Department of Education through CBC. Repayment begins six months after the student’s enrollment ends or drops below six credits. The interest rate varies. Entrance and exit counseling are required.
- Direct Unsubsidized Loan– A non-need-based loan. The combination of subsidized and unsubsidized Direct Loans for a student may not exceed the annual and maximum aggregate limits for Direct loans. The deferments and grace period are the same as the Direct Subsidized Loan program. Interest accrues during the grace period and deferments, and must be paid or capitalized (i.e., added to the loan principal). Entrance and exit counseling are required.
- Direct Parent PLUS Loan- Non-need-based loans available to parents of dependent students. The yearly maximum loan limit cannot exceed the total cost of attending CBC minus other financial aid awarded. The interest rate varies.
- CBC Short-Term Loans - Short-term loans from the Resource Center for tuition, fees and books. Loans must be repaid by the end of the quarter in which the loan is made. Call (509) 542-5525 for more information.
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