Constituting the oldest public community college (that has never ceased to operate) in the entire state of Washington, Centralia College was founded in 1925 in the small southwestern Washington community of Centralia. The school occupies a total terrain of 29 acres, and serves the surrounding 2,500 square miles of territory in Lewis and Thurston Counties, forming the Washington State administrative branch of Community College District Twelve. The surrounding area is largely rural, although it is not a far drive to the metropolitan areas of Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon.
Centralia College
Academics
Centralia College receives full accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The school offers over 60 different academic programs, with degrees ranging from Associate in Arts to Associate in Liberal Arts and Associate in Science. The school is, hence, a two-year institution of higher learning, and students generally either aim towards a transfer program (with agreements in place with other state schools to accept Centralia graduates for four-year programs) or a professional/technical program to launch them into a specific career field.
In keeping with the community college format, Centralia College offers a variety of correspondence and online courses to help active, adult students achieve their education goals. It’s no surprise, as a result, that many of Centralia’s students are well above the average college age.
Among the more representative of the schools degree programs are those in liberal arts, nursing and emergency medicine, medical administration, criminal justice and business management.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Centralia College.
Centralia College has an open admissions policy, which means that all applying students that meet the basic qualifications will be accepted to the school. For those under the age of 18, it is necessary to either have a high school diploma or to have a GED; persons that have already reached the age of 18 may apply for admission without either.
Returning and transfer students are expected to forward official copies of their transcripts to the school upon applying for admission, while students applying to enter one of Centralia College’s many online study programs have separate (and entirely electronic) admissions requirements. The most competitive area of admissions is the schools quite popular nursing program, which only accepts 24 first year and another 24 second year students.
International students (who form a surprising number of the school’s student population) have a separate application and admission procedure, with specific financial conditions stipulated. Finally, drop-in students (those not seeking a degree or certificate) are not required to formally apply for admission, and simply can enroll in courses after regular students have chosen their courses for the quarter.
Financial Aid
Financial aid is available to all Centralia College students with the exception of those entering as drop-in students (described above). Centralia College participates in the federal Title IV financial assistance programs, and therefore a wide variety of standard local, state and federal aid options are available to incoming students.
As mentioned, the student body at Centralia College has a higher than normal proportion of mature students (in their 30s or 40s, that is). The school is also distinguished by its large proportion of international students, particularly for a public community college. The school offers many different ways for students to get and stay engaged with the school experience, either through the pioneering school journalism project or one of the many student clubs and organizations. A random (though somewhat representative) selection of student organizations would have to include the International Club, the KCED Radio/TV Club, the Nursing Club, and the Phi Theta Kappa honors society club.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Centralia College?
Centralia College competes in the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAAC), and offers a variety of men’s and women’s teams which students can join. The school’s mascot, representative of the rural and pioneer region in which Centralia College is located, is called “The Trailblazer” (depicted as a rough frontiersman). The intercollegiate teams are, for the women: volleyball, basketball, golf and fast pitch softball; and for the men: basketball and baseball. The school’s sports team colors are blue and gold.
The school is recognized for its excellent offering of financial aid for student athletes, at a level that is uncommon for public community colleges of its sort.
Demographics – Main Campus and Surrounding Areas
Reported area around or near Centralia, WA 98531-4099
Surrounding community
Distant town (between 10 to 35 mi. away from an urban cluster)
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Centralia, WA 98531-4099
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