Available Throughout the Region
With over 18,000 students enrolled in higher education in area colleges and vocational-technical schools, Yakima County offers a complete range of post K-12 educational resources. The region enjoys a major community college, a private university, satellite campuses for two state universities, a new medical university, and a nationally recognized private technical institute.
Yakima Valley Community College
Yakima Valley Community College (YVCC) is a public, two-year institution of higher education which is a part of one of the best comprehensive community college systems in the nation. As such, the college offers programs in adult basic education, English as a Second Language, lower division arts and sciences, professional and technical education, and community services. In addition to the institution being accredited, several workforce education programs have earned special accreditation or recognition in their field of specialty: the allied health technologies of medical assisting and surgical technology, automotive service technology, dental hygiene, nursing, radiologic sciences, and veterinary technology. The College’s main campus is in Yakima and has a satellite campus in Grandview.
Heritage University
Heritage University is a fully-accredited, private institution offering a wide array of academic programs and degrees. The University is grounded in the belief that a college education should be accessible to anyone with the talent and drive to pursue a degree, regardless of economics, culture, or geographic locations. Students at Heritage University enjoy a world-class, multi-cultural education and personalized attention. Classes are small, averaging only 11 students in each class. Professors are skilled practitioners with ties deep in their respective fields. Heritage offers 14 baccelaureate degrees in different disciplines and several graduate degree options.
Central Washington University
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Central Washington University (CWU) is a comprehensive, four-year public university granting baccalaureate and master’s degrees from both its main campus in Ellensburg, Washington and its branch in Yakima. Central’s Yakima program is housed within the Deccio Higher Education Center and offers degree options in the following areas: B.A. Ed. Elementary Education, B A. Law and Justice, B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies – Social Sciences. The Yakima Center also offers coursework that can be applied toward B.S. Business Administration and B.S. Accounting, M. Ed Master and Reading Specialist. Central’s main campus in Ellensburg is 30 miles north of Yakima.
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences (PNWU) is the Pacific Northwest’s first new medical school in 60 years. The College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first college to open on the PNWU campus, is a world-class medical school staffed by top caliber academic instructors and practicing physicians from both the osteopathic and allopathic professions. PNWU’s mission is to train new generations of doctors and medical professionals who will serve the needs of those who live in the non-urban communities and rural areas of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
Perry Technical Institute
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Perry Technical Institute is a private, non-profit technical school offering nine certificated training programs. Founded in 1939, the school has continued to grow, adapting its programs to meet the changing needs of the workplace. Perry Technical Institute’s mission is to provide industry with well-trained employees and to offer students of all ages and walks of life opportunities to train for meaningful careers. Perry’s training programs are approved by the Washington State Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board and accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges. Perry Technical Institute has been recognized nationally for its state-of-the-art technical programs ranging from instrumentation to HVAC and informational technology, to medical office administration. Perry also cooperates with Central Washington University to offer technical programs in engineering, robotics, and other technology.
