Community Colleges of Spokane

What Community Colleges of Spokane does

Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS), also operating as Spokane Colleges, is a public community college district designated as Washington State Community College District 17, founded in 1963 and headquartered in Spokane, Washington. The district operates two accredited institutions — Spokane Community College (SCC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) — plus a Head Start / ECEAP / Early Head Start program, collectively serving approximately 20,000 students annually across a 12,302 square-mile region in Eastern Washington. Its core instructional portfolio spans associate degrees, professional/technical certifications, transfer pathways, adult basic education, GED preparation, workforce training, Running Start dual-enrollment with high schools, corporate continuing education, and online learning through Canvas LMS. Student-facing technology includes ctcLink for enrollment, Canvas for course delivery, BankMobile for financial disbursements, Salesforce for campus tour scheduling, Tableau for institutional research dashboards, and Microsoft 365 / Power Apps for internal operations.

The business model is a hybrid of state appropriations, tuition and fees, and grant funding rather than a typical commercial revenue engine. Tuition rates are set externally by the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), the district's governing parent body, and approved by a five-member governor-appointed Board of Trustees (Todd Woodard, Glenn Johnson, Anna Franklin, Steven Yoshihara, Kelly Fukai). Operating revenue is drawn from three streams: per-credit tuition and fees paid by students (with residency-based pricing and additional lab/course/technology fees), state allocations from Washington, and federal/state/private grants supporting programs in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, STEM, skilled trades, semiconductor workforce, and rural education (e.g., $2M+ DoE grants, NSF $649K, USDA, SBCTC $1M Running Start). The district is led by Chancellor Dr. Kevin Brockbank (since May 2023) and is governed as a government state entity with no private equity or venture capital ownership. Customer segments are highly diversified: traditional and non-traditional students form the primary base, with secondary segments in Head Start families (1,144 served), regional employers purchasing customized training, and rural communities served through outreach centers in Colville, Inchelium, Newport, Republic, and Pullman. Pricing is publicly disclosed, fixed by SBCTC, and supplemented by financial aid, waivers, and work-study — meaning revenue predictability is high but growth is capped by state policy rather than market demand.

Name

Community Colleges of Spokane

Legal name

Community Colleges of Spokane

Website

https://ccs.spokane.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1963

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Community Colleges of Spokane is a public Washington state community college district operating two accredited colleges (SCC and SFCC) plus Head Start, serving approximately 20,000 students annually across 12,302 square miles of Eastern Washington through tuition, state appropriations, and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community College Education

NAICS

Junior Colleges (6112), Junior Colleges (61121), Junior Colleges (611210)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Campus Community College Districts (EDAHADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Comprehensive Community Colleges (Transfer + Workforce) (EDAHADAE), Rural/Regional Community Colleges (EDAHADAK), Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), Work-Based Learning Programs (Internships, Apprenticeships, Community-Based Instruction) (EDAKANAF)

Keywords

• Community college education
• Workforce training programs
• Adult basic education
• Early childhood education
• Continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: State Board for Community & Technical Colleges (SBCTC) sets maximum allowable tuition rates. Tuition, lab and course fees approved by Board of Trustees. Students pay tuition based on credit hours and residency status.
2. State Funding: District receives operational funding from Washington State as part of the State of Washington financial audit, rolling up into SBCTC financial statements.
3. Grants and Sponsored Research: Federal, state, and private grants support innovative programs in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, STEM, rural education partnerships, and workforce development. Examples include Dept. of Education grants ($2M+), National Science Foundation grants, USDA grants, and state workforce training grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Community Colleges of Spokane is a public community college district operating two accredited institutions — Spokane Community College (SCC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) — that deliver associate degrees, professional-technical certificates, transfer pathways, workforce training, adult basic education, and eLearning to roughly 20,000 students annually across Eastern Washington. The district also runs Spokane County Head Start/Early Head Start early childhood programs and Corporate and Continuing Education customized workforce training for Inland Northwest organizations.

Product overview

Community Colleges of Spokane is a community college district operating as a unified platform comprising two accredited colleges—Spokane Community College (SCC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC)—along with supplementary programs including Spokane County Head Start/Early Head Start, Corporate and Continuing Education, eLearning/Online Learning, Adult Basic Education, Workforce Development, Rural Education Outreach Centers, Running Start, and Global Education. The district serves approximately 20,000 students annually across a 12,302 square-mile region in Eastern Washington. Students interact with the district through various systems including ctcLink for registration, Canvas for online learning, and BankMobile for financial disbursements. The two colleges serve as the core educational delivery platforms offering associate degrees, professional/technical programs, and transfer pathways, while supplementary programs extend access to underserved populations including Head Start children, rural communities, working adults, and international students.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Spokane Community College (SCC) One of two accredited colleges in the Community Colleges of Spokane district, offering associate degrees, professional-technical programs, workforce training, and continuing education at the main Spokane campus and rural education centers (Colville, Inchelium, Newport, Republic).
• Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) One of two accredited colleges in the Community Colleges of Spokane district, offering transfer degrees, professional-technical programs, and community education at the main campus, the Fairchild AFB Center, and the Pullman location.
• Spokane County Head Start / ECEAP / Early Head Start Child development program providing early childhood education, social services, and health services for eligible young children and families, including those with special needs, delivered through multiple centers across Spokane County.
• Corporate and Continuing Education Workforce training and professional development courses in business, computers and technology, health and medical, teacher education, and customized organizational training tailored to businesses around the Inland Northwest.
• eLearning / Online Learning Distance education and online course offerings delivered through the Canvas Learning Management System, providing flexible learning options for students who cannot attend in-person classes.
• Adult Basic Education (ABE) Educational programs for adults seeking to improve basic skills, earn GED credentials, or prepare for college-level coursework.
• Workforce Development Career and technical education programs including apprenticeships, skilled trades preparation, aviation maintenance, and youth camp programs for workforce preparation.
• Rural Education Outreach Centers Educational services delivered at rural locations including SCC Colville, SCC Inchelium, SCC Newport, SCC Republic, and SFCC Pullman to serve communities throughout the 12,302 square-mile district region.
• Running Start Concurrent enrollment program allowing high school students to earn college credits while completing high school requirements.
• Global Education / International Programs Study abroad opportunities, international student support services, and global education initiatives for students seeking international academic experiences.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87.2% Employment Rate
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• College Spark WashingtoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Four-year grant partnership focused on strengthening student transitions from high school to college and careers. Engaged English, Math, and counseling faculty from SCC, SFCC, and five rural high schools to develop school-specific interventions for academic preparation and persistence.
• Colville Center Manufacturing ProgramminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018$120,000 state grant partnership with local manufacturing industry and school district for new manufacturing program.
• WIPHE (Washington Intercollegiate Partnership for Higher Education)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCooperative purchasing organization for Washington state agencies and educational institutions.
• U.S. CommunitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational cooperative purchasing organization providing access to competitively solicited contracts.
• E&I Cooperative ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational cooperative buying group for education and other nonprofit sectors.
• KCDA Cooperative ServicesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional cooperative purchasing organization serving educational agencies in the Pacific Northwest.
• Valley Hospital (Spokane Valley)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare partner for hospital employment and education training program providing career advancement opportunities for hospital workers.
• Riverside High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRural high school partner in Collaboration for Rural Student College and Career Readiness program, created an innovative college and career readiness program.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bellevue College: Largest SBCTC community college, offering transfer, applied bachelor's, and workforce programs. Comparable as a comprehensive Washington community college with similar governance, accreditation, and funding structure.
• Yakima Valley College: Public SBCTC community college serving Central Washington with transfer, workforce, and Head Start-like support programs. Comparable in scale, mission, and rural outreach.
• Everett Community College: Public community college in the SBCTC system offering transfer degrees and technical programs. Similar institutional structure, funding streams, and Head Start/community education adjacencies.
• Tacoma Community College: SBCTC system community college offering associate degrees, workforce training, and Running Start. Comparable governance, funding model, and program breadth, though operating in a more urban market.
• Columbia Basin College: Public community college in Pasco, WA, within the SBCTC system, offering transfer and technical education across a tri-county region. Comparable mission, governance, and rural/urban mix.
• Wenatchee Valley College: Public community college in Wenatchee, WA, within the SBCTC system, serving North Central Washington with similar transfer, workforce, and rural access missions. Closely comparable to CCS in geography, governance, and program mix.
• Big Bend Community College: Public community college in Moses Lake, WA, part of the Washington SBCTC system. Comparable as a regional two-year public college offering transfer degrees, workforce training, and rural community access; explicitly named as a partner/peer institution in CCS news content.

Broad incumbents

• Gonzaga University: Private four-year university in Spokane. While not a direct competitor for community college students, it overlaps on continuing education, workforce, and adult learner segments in the Spokane market, and graduates CCS transfer students.
• Eastern Washington University: Public four-year university located in Cheney, WA, within CCS's service region. EWU is the primary transfer destination for SFCC students and competes in Spokane for adult learners; relevant as an institutional partner and competitor in the regional education ecosystem.

Regional players

• North Idaho College: Public community college in Coeur d'Alene, ID, just across the Washington border. Comparable two-year public college model with similar transfer and workforce offerings; competes for some of the same Inland Northwest students but operates in a different state system.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CCofSpokane
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCKHyAbGEMhgZ8Ago8jSmVhw
• Facebookfacebook.com/ccofspokane
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/spokane-colleges
• Instagraminstagram.com/spokanecolleges

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Community Colleges of Spokane