Columbia Gorge Community College

What Columbia Gorge Community College does

Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) is a public community college founded in 1977 and headquartered in The Dalles, Oregon, serving the Columbia River Gorge region across Wasco and Hood River counties through two campuses (The Dalles and Hood River). It operates as a government state entity under the Columbia Gorge Community College District and is the only community college in the region, delivering associate degrees (including AAOT transfer degrees), career-technical certificates, community-education non-credit courses, GED/ESOL prep, and dual-enrollment high-school programs. Federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and a 2025-27 Rural Guided Pathways school, CGCC is NWCCU-accredited and holds FAA Part 147 approval for its Aviation Maintenance Technician program.

Its core technology stack is commodity: a standard learning management system and student information system for credit/non-credit delivery, the Slingshot auto-fulfillment platform for course materials, Paylocity for HR/payroll, MyOEBB for benefits administration, and UWill for 24/7 telehealth counseling. Program infrastructure centers on the 2021 Columbia Gorge Regional Skills Center (Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Electro-Mechanical), the Chinook Residence Hall with on-campus meal plans, and FAA-aligned aviation training facilities at Hood River with a planned dedicated hangar via a pending ~$3.5M EDA grant. Specialized assets include the FAA-approved 18-month Aviation Maintenance AAS (104 credits), a 97-credit Electro-Mechanical Technology AAS, and Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication, Construction Technology, and Early Childhood Education pathways.

CGCC's revenue model blends per-credit tuition and fees, federal and state grants (Pell, SEOG, DOE, EPA, state allocations), Federal Work-Study pass-through, and non-credit community-education tuition. Funding flows are diversified across federal agencies (DOE $1.97M, EPA Community Change, pending EDA $3.5M), private/corporate philanthropy (Google $85K, PacifiCorp $55K, Metallica/All Within My Hands Foundation $150K+ across five years, Roundhouse Foundation), and tuition. Strategic transfer partnerships with Western Governors University and Portland State University extend degree pathways, while employer partnerships with GE Renewables, Horizon Air, Insitu, HP, US Army Corps of Engineers, and Bonneville Power create direct graduate-employment pipelines in advanced manufacturing, aviation maintenance, electro-mechanical, and renewable-energy roles.

Name

Columbia Gorge Community College

Legal name

Columbia Gorge Community College

Website

https://cgcc.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Columbia Gorge Community College is a public two-campus community college in The Dalles and Hood River, Oregon, serving rural Columbia Gorge residents with associate degrees, career-technical certificates, transfer pathways, and community education. It is the only community college in the region and an FAA-approved, HSI-designated Hispanic-Serving Institution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Community College

NAICS

Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (6112), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Community Colleges (EDAHADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Technical Community Colleges (Applied/CTE-Focused) (EDAHADAD), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Junior Colleges (Associate-Degree Granting) (EDAHADAC)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Career-technical training
• Aviation maintenance training
• Associate degree programs
• Workforce development

Headquarters

HQ city

The Dalles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Revenue from credit-bearing programs charged per credit hour, with associated fees for enrollment. Financial aid (federal grants, loans, work-study) is distributed to eligible students to cover tuition and living expenses.
2. Non-credit Community Education: Community Education courses generate revenue from non-credit continuing education offerings open to the broader community.
3. Federal and State Grants: Federal grants (Pell, SEOG), state grants, and competitive federal awards (DOE grants, EPA grants) provide funding flows that support college operations, financial aid distribution, and program development.
4. Federal Work-Study: Federal Work-Study program provides funds for part-time jobs for students with financial need, allowing the college to deploy student labor while receiving federal reimbursement.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Columbia Gorge Community College is a public community college providing associate degrees, career-technical certificates, and non-credit community education courses to students in the rural Columbia River Gorge region of Oregon. Core academic programs include the Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) for university-bound students, FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician training, and career-technical associate degrees in Electro-Mechanical Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication, Construction Technology, and Early Childhood Education. Student support services include on-campus housing at Chinook Residence Hall, the Slingshot auto-fulfillment textbook program, and grant-funded workforce pathways aligned with regional employer demand.

Product overview

Columbia Gorge Community College (CGCC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs and student services centered around transfer pathways, career-technical education, and community learning. The institution provides university-transfer degrees (AAOT), career certificates and associate degrees in advanced manufacturing, aviation maintenance, construction, electro-mechanical technology, and healthcare. Key facilities include the Columbia Gorge Regional Skills Center for hands-on technical training, on-campus housing (Chinook Residence Hall), and the Chinook Campus Pantry for food security. CGCC partners with Western Governors University for seamless online degree completion and offers specialized programs including FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technology and industry-aligned Electro-Mechanical Technology. Student support services include Slingshot course materials delivery, Child Care Partners referral services, and telehealth counseling through UWill.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Associate of Arts Oregon Transfer (AAOT) Degree University-parallel transfer program allowing students to complete the first two years of a bachelor's degree before transferring to four-year Oregon and out-of-state institutions. Designed for students planning to pursue a bachelor's degree after completing their associate studies.
• Aviation Maintenance Technology (AAS) FAA-approved Associate of Applied Science degree (18 months, 104 credit hours across 45 subject areas) preparing students for Airframe & Powerplant certification and careers as aviation mechanics. Graduates qualify to sit for FAA licensing exams.
• Aviation Airframe Certificate FAA-approved certificate program focused on airframe maintenance, one of two certificates required for full A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) licensure.
• Aviation Powerplant Certificate FAA-approved certificate program focused on powerplant (engine) maintenance, one of two certificates required for full A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) licensure.
• Electro-Mechanical Technology (AAS) 97-credit Associate of Applied Science degree combining mechanical, electrical, and programming skills for careers in wind, solar, hydropower, avionics manufacturing, and related industries. Graduates are hired by regional employers including GE Renewables and the US Army Corps of Engineers.
• Electro-Mechanical Technology Career Pathway Certificate 42-credit career pathway certificate fully contained within the Electro-Mechanical Technology AAS degree, covering electrical circuit analysis, motor controls, hydraulics, and industrial computing.
• Advanced Manufacturing and Fabrication (AAS) Associate of Applied Science degree preparing students for high-tech manufacturing roles in CNC machining, robotics, quality control, and process improvement. Delivered at the Columbia Gorge Regional Skills Center.
• Construction Technology (AAS) Two-year Associate of Applied Science degree program emphasizing hands-on, practical experience in all aspects of the construction industry.
• Community Education (Non-Credit) Non-credit continuing education courses for personal enrichment, professional development, and community engagement. Open to community members without formal admission requirements, providing flexible lifelong learning opportunities.
• GED and Pre-College Programs (ESOL) Preparation courses for GED tests and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programs for adults seeking educational credentials or English language skills.
• Dual Enrollment / College Now College Now program allowing high school students to earn college credits simultaneously with their high school coursework, including dual enrollment partnerships with regional high school districts.
• Early Childhood Education Spanish/English Initial Certificate Bilingual Spanish/English Early Childhood Education Initial Certificate designed to prepare students for in-demand early childhood education careers in the Columbia Gorge region, supporting the region's Hispanic-Serving Institution mission.
• Columbia Gorge Regional Skills Center Career-technical education facility that opened in 2021 providing training in Advanced Manufacturing, Construction Technologies, and other technical programs with industry-standard equipment including CNC milling and lathe machines, 3D printers, laser engravers, and watercutters.
• Child Care Partners (Resource & Referral) Child Care Resource & Referral service for Gilliam, Hood River, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler Counties, helping families find child care and assisting child care providers with resources.

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.00% federal student loan Cohort Default Rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western Governors University (WGU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 September 2025CGCC and WGU launched a partnership creating a seamless online transfer pathway for CGCC graduates and employees to pursue bachelor's, master's, and certificate programs. CGCC is the seventh community college in Oregon to join WGU's network. The partnership includes a $3,500 scholarship for eligible students and aims to address regional workforce demands by upskilling local talent while supporting long-term career growth.
• Horizon AircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2021Horizon Air and CGCC entered an MOU establishing CGCC as an official training partner. Students enrolled in the Aviation Maintenance program are eligible for the Horizon Technician Development Program, which provides a stipend to complete training in exchange for a two-year, six-month employment commitment with Horizon Air.
• Lane Community CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFaculty from Lane Community College provided guidance and site tours to help CGCC develop its FAA-approved Aviation Maintenance Technician program, sharing curriculum development expertise.
• Port of The DallescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGCC has a draft lease with Columbia Gorge Regional Airport (jointly owned by City of The Dalles and Klickitat County) to construct a dedicated aviation training hangar and expand the airport industrial park, with $3.5 million EDA grant funding pending.
• Portland State University (PSU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGCC students who plan to transfer to PSU and major in STEM receive individual support in their transfer process through the LSAMP program. LSAMP is currently supported by the PSU Provost Office and the Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science. PSU LSAMP launched in 2009 and was previously funded by NSF.
• Slingshot (course materials)coreTechnology or IntegrationCGCC partners with Slingshot, a course materials auto-fulfillment program. Slingshot creates accounts for enrolled students and automatically orders required materials according to account preferences. This is described as a subscription-box model for learning materials similar to Netflix or Spotify.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Linn-Benton Community College: Oregon public community college offering similar career-technical and transfer programs, including notable workforce training partnerships. Comparable on program mix and Oregon-state funding environment.
• Clackamas Community College: Oregon public community college with strong career-technical programs (including aviation-related trades) and small-class instructional model similar to CGCC's. Operates in a different sub-region of Oregon.
• Mt. Hood Community College: Oregon public community college serving the Portland metro/Gorge-adjacent area. Comparable as a peer Oregon community college with similar transfer and career-technical programming, but operates at significantly larger scale in a more urban geography.
• Chemeketa Community College: Mid-sized Oregon public community college with HSI designation, workforce development programs, and rural service area. Directly comparable on Hispanic-Serving Institution strategy and career-technical focus.
• Skagit Valley College: Washington community college where incoming CGCC President Dr. Ken Lawson previously served as VP of Instruction. Comparable rural community college profile with similar career-technical programming.

Direct peers

• Central Oregon Community College: Rural Oregon public community college offering associate degrees, transfer pathways, and career-technical programs. Recently hired CGCC's departing foundation director, indicating tight talent mobility among Oregon's small rural community colleges.
• Treasure Valley Community College: Rural Oregon community college with a geographic monopoly in its service area similar to CGCC's. Comparable as a small, rural Oregon public community college with career-technical and transfer programs.
• Lane Community College: Oregon public community college whose aviation maintenance program faculty directly mentored CGCC in launching its FAA Part 147 curriculum. Most direct peer on the aviation maintenance training dimension.
• Blue Mountain Community College: Rural Oregon public community college serving a small geographic region with comparable transfer and career-technical programming. Closest peer on rural small-community-college profile.

Broad incumbents

• Portland Community College: Largest Oregon community college with broad career-technical, transfer, and workforce programs including aviation maintenance. Serves as a broader-incumbent peer for career pathways and a destination for some CGCC transfer students.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/columbiagorgecc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/cgcclive
• Facebookfacebook.com/109004909298
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/columbia-gorge-community-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/columbiagorgecc

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Columbia Gorge Community College