For students like Sierra Rodriguez, Estefania Cervantes Montero, Milagros Camargo Patino, and Beatrice Becerra, choosing a university wasn’t just about earning a degree — it was about finding a place where someone would help them navigate the path to get there.

At Heritage University’s Tri-Cities location in Kennewick, they found exactly that. Rodriguez, a mother of four, balances family life, a part-time job as an assistant manager at a local shoe store, and a full course load as a business major with an accounting focus. She first heard about the campus in a radio advertisement while driving.

“I thought, ‘Huh! Is this telling me that I need to go back to school?’” Rodriguez said. “So, I checked out the website and saw pictures of students of different ethnicities. I liked that.”

The location — just 10 minutes from home and next door to her daughters’ school — helped make the decision easy.

“It’s for my girls and my husband,” she said. “I want to be a role model for my girls. “But really, it’s for me.”

Sophomore Estefania Cervantes Montero discovered Heritage after running into obstacles elsewhere. After moving to Washington from California, she struggled to secure in-state tuition at other universities. “Neither of the other schools could figure out how to help me get in-state tuition,” she said. “I’m the first in my family to go to college, and I didn’t know anything about how to do all this.”

Heritage admissions counselor Elizabeth Perez Gonzalez helped resolve the issue and connected her with department chairs to explore majors.

“At Heritage, I could talk with the professors in charge of the departments,” Cervantes Montero said. “That was amazing.”

For Milagros Camargo Patino, the support extended beyond academics during a difficult time. “I’ve gone to school with a lot of stress, especially when my mom’s health wasn’t good,” she said. “Liz and Nely (site director Nely Aquino Bautista) always checked on me and reminded me to take care of my health and take things slow. I’m extremely grateful for their advice.”

That encouragement helped her step into leadership roles.

“Here at Heritage Tri-Cities, I’ve made a lot of friends and grown as an individual,” she said. “I’ve joined the Student Ambassador Program and Student Government while maintaining good grades in my work-study position.”

After graduation, she hopes to become a school counselor.

Beatrice Becerra, a social work major, says college has helped her grow in confidence.

“Being in college has given me a lot of confidence,” she said. “I’m impressed by how much I’ve grown in my study habits and my ability to balance work, family, and school.”

She also hopes to become a school counselor after graduating.

Their experiences reflect a philosophy that has defined Heritage University for more than four decades: students come first.

That principle — captured in the message “Students, Heritage has your back” — now shapes the experience of a growing number of students at Heritage University Tri-Cities.

EXPANDING ACCESS IN A GROWING REGION

Heritage welcomed its first freshman cohort in the Tri-Cities in fall 2023, expanding beyond the earlier transfer model that allowed students to complete the final two years of a bachelor’s degree at Columbia Basin College.

Today, students can pursue four-year degrees in five fields—business, accounting, social work, education, and criminal justice. Students who want to major in other areas can complete their first two years in the Tri-Cities, then transfer to the Toppenish campus.

The expansion reflects both Heritage’s mission and the rapid growth of the Tri-Cities — Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland — one of the fastest-growing regions in Washington.

Many residents balance work and family responsibilities, and many Heritage students are the first in their families to attend college. Personalized guidance through admissions, financial aid, and academic planning can make the difference between enrolling and giving up.

“The decision to expand into the Tri-Cities really came down to two things,” said Saundra Hill, member of the university’s Board of Directors. “First, our mission. Heritage has always focused on serving students who may not see college as an option otherwise — many of them first-generation students who need more support navigating higher education. Tri-Cities has a significant population of first-generation college students, and while there are strong institutions serving the region, there is also a group of students who often face a ‘Heritage or no college’ choice. We know how to serve those students well.

“The second part is the opportunity to serve the community. The Tri-Cities is a growing metropolitan area with expanding industries and strong demand for skilled workers. There are high-paying careers here in fields like healthcare, education, and technology, and employers need a well-prepared workforce. By being in the Tri- Cities, Heritage can help prepare local students for those careers while strengthening the region’s workforce and economy.”

Heritage’s Tri-Cities site — located in the former Tri-City Herald building in Kennewick — offers classrooms, offices, study spaces, and gathering areas designed to create a close-knit academic setting.

SUPPORT THAT BEGINS BEFORE ENROLLMENT

“The potential for growth in the Tri-Cities is significant,” Hill said. “Just in Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland, there are eight large high schools graduating roughly 5,000 students every year, and that doesn’t even include the surrounding smaller districts. Many of those students go on to CBC or WSU Tri-Cities, but there are still many who aren’t being fully served,” said Hill.

To reach these potential students, admissions staff maintain a presence at 16 regional high schools and community events throughout the Tri-Cities area.

“We’re pretty data-driven,” said Rebecca Garza, executive director of admissions for both Heritage locations. “We look at where students tend to come from and focus our resources there, but we reach out to other areas as well. It’s critical that we’re out where people are.”

The university also hosts family-focused events such as Financial Literacy Nights, Counselor Day, and Future Eagle Day to help students and families navigate the college process.

“We want the whole family to feel comfortable asking questions and being part of the decision,” Garza said. “It’s a beautiful thing when the whole family is excited to come to Heritage.”

With applications and interest rising, Garza expects enrollment at Heritage University, Tri- Cities to continue growing.

“We walk the journey with them,” she said. “And when they cross the stage at commencement, we’re just as excited for them as if they’re our own family.”

As more students step through the doors in Kennewick, Heritage’s presence in the Tri-Cities is becoming more than an expansion — it is a promise kept. For students balancing work, family, and first-generation dreams, the university offers not just degrees, but direction. And as those graduates enter classrooms, businesses, hospitals, and community organizations across the region, the impact extends far beyond campus — strengthening families, meeting workforce needs, and adding to the economic stability of the region.