Columbia Gorge Community College is a public institution offering associate degrees based in The Dalles, Oregon. It enrolls 543 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (2-Year). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
54/100
UCD Score · 2-Year
Outcomes13
Value58
Affordability43
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
As a two-year college, Columbia Gorge Community College generally admits all qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Columbia Gorge Community College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $10,416 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$10,416
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
29%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
13%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$5,940
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$10,260
Room & Board (on-campus)
$7,341
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,975
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$5,676
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$5,676
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,608
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,75210%percentile
$3,50025%percentile
$19,397Medianpercentile
$18,90375%percentile
$29,06690%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $9,500
↓ $9,897
No Pell $4,719
↓ $14,678
Dependent students $4,083
↓ $15,314
Independent students $10,500
↓ $8,897
Female students $9,500
↓ $9,897
Male students $5,482
↓ $13,915
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $7,063, less than completers ($19,397), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
21% of full-time students who enrolled at Columbia Gorge Community College graduate within six years, and 52% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
21%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
52%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Columbia Gorge Community College earn a median of $44,440 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,440
Earning > $25K
73%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
What this means:
Solid return on investment. Every dollar of net annual cost is matched by ~$4.3 of median earnings 10 years out.
Who Studies Here
Columbia Gorge Community College is home to 543 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 56% are first-generation college students, 55% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
543
Part-Time
55%
First-Generation
56%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 43.3%235
Hispanic 35.9%195
Other 4.1%22
Asian 0.7%4
Black 0.2%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Columbia Gorge Community College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteThe Dalles, Oregon
Housing
Limited on-campus housing50 beds
Adult Learners
30%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
Designation
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)
What You Can Study
Columbia Gorge Community College offers
a focused set of programs:
6 distinct programs across
6 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia Gorge Community College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,347
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$2.4M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$63,420
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
27 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Instructors
27
100%
$63,420
Pros & Cons of Columbia Gorge Community College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Columbia Gorge Community College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Open admissions
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Mostly part-time student body, less full-time campus feel
Best for:
Based on the data, Columbia Gorge Community College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Columbia Gorge Community College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Columbia Gorge Community College.
Is Columbia Gorge Community College hard to get into?
Columbia Gorge Community College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted.
What is the acceptance rate at Columbia Gorge Community College?
Columbia Gorge Community College has an acceptance rate of 0%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Columbia Gorge Community College cost?
The average net price after aid at Columbia Gorge Community College is $10,416 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Columbia Gorge Community College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,440 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $10,416 per year. That's roughly 4.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Columbia Gorge Community College known for?
Columbia Gorge Community College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Columbia Gorge Community College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Columbia Gorge Community College are $44,440, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Columbia Gorge Community College accredited?
Yes. Columbia Gorge Community College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Columbia Gorge Community College?
Columbia Gorge Community College enrolls 543 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Columbia Gorge Community College?
Columbia Gorge Community College graduates 21% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Columbia Gorge Community College a public or private college?
Columbia Gorge Community College is a Public institution.
Where is Columbia Gorge Community College located?
Columbia Gorge Community College is located in The Dalles, Oregon.
What programs does Columbia Gorge Community College offer?
Columbia Gorge Community College offers 6 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technologies/Technicians.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia Gorge Community College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Columbia Gorge Community College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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