Highline College
A good fit for families who need the lowest possible cost and students who prefer a mid-size campus. graduation rate is below 40%. a public school with 3,838 students.
About This School
Highline College is a public institution located in Des Moines, Washington with approximately 3,838 undergraduate students enrolled. The average net price after financial aid is $9,879 per year. The graduation rate is 35%, and the typical graduate earns $40,900 within 10 years of enrollment.
Highline College is a public community college in Des Moines, Washington. Highline was founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County, Washington. The main campus covers 80 acres (320,000 m2). As of 2015, there were approximately 17,000 students and 350,000 alumni of the college.
The numbers tell a mixed story here: the low average debt of $6,113 and affordable net price of $10,878/year make this one of the more financially accessible community college options in the region, which is genuinely appealing for students watching their budget. However, the 39% graduation rate is a real concern — it suggests many students struggle to complete their degree, so you'll want to honestly assess whether you have the support systems in place to stay on track. Worth considering if you're cost-conscious and have a clear plan, but go in with your eyes open.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 19% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Highline College graduates earn most above the national rate in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services ($66,918 vs $42,269 nationally).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 409 | $54,874 | $44,125 | +$10,749 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 71 | $98,992 | $80,813 | +$18,179 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 46 | $66,918 | $42,269 | +$24,649 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing an associate's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Strong return. Graduates earn well above their debt load.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (3,838 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Highline College is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Highline College cost?
The average net price at Highline College is about $9,879 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Highline College?
Highline College has a graduation rate of 35%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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