Head-to-head comparison
Columbia Basin College vs South Seattle College: which has better ROI?
Option A Pasco, WA
Columbia Basin College
- Net price / year
- $8,317
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,680
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Seattle, WA
South Seattle College
- Net price / year
- $6,004
- Earnings, 10 years
- $44,486
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Columbia Basin College comes closer — median earnings $46,680 against a $16,634 total, vs $44,486 at South Seattle College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Columbia Basin College | South Seattle College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $8,317 | $6,004 |
| Total net cost | $16,634 | $24,016 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $46,680 | $44,486 |
| Median debt | $14,829 | — |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$50,234 | -$101,496 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Columbia Basin College or South Seattle College?
South Seattle College, at $6,004 a year after aid versus $8,317 — a gap of $2,313 a year, or $7,382 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Columbia Basin College or South Seattle College graduates earn more?
Columbia Basin College graduates report a median $46,680 ten years after entry, $2,194 more than the $44,486 at South Seattle College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
33% of students finish at Columbia Basin College, against 31% at South Seattle College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.