Highline College is a public institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Des Moines, Washington. It enrolls 3,838 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNorthwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
Academic CalendarQuarter
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
69/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes46
Value75
Affordability41
Selectivity—
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
Admissions data is not yet reported for Highline College.
Acceptance Rate
—
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Highline College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $9,879 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$9,879
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
19%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
2%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$4,772
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$5,332
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,228
Room & Board (off-campus)
$17,310
Books & Supplies
$528
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,746
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,746
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,812
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$8,984
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,689
$48,001 – $75,000
$11,209
$75,001 – $110,000
$11,455
Over $110,000
$12,378
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$1,66710%percentile
$3,00025%percentile
$9,500Medianpercentile
$11,70275%percentile
$18,50090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,002
↓ $2,498
No Pell $5,500
↓ $4,000
Dependent students $4,092
↓ $5,408
Independent students $7,737
↓ $1,763
Female students $6,808
↓ $2,692
Male students $5,409
↓ $4,091
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,647, less than completers ($9,500), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
27% of full-time students who enrolled at Highline College graduate within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
—
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Highline College earn a median of $47,869 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,869
Earning > $25K
70%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$37,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,400
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$36,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$47,000
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$48,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $11,100, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
28.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Highline College is home to 3,838 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 50% are first-generation college students, 48% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
3,838
Part-Time
48%
First-Generation
50%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Hispanic 20.4%784
Black 17.1%657
White 15.5%593
Asian 15.1%578
Other 8.5%326
International 7.2%275
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Highline College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbDes Moines, Washington
Housing
Limited on-campus housing160 beds
Adult Learners
32%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Quarterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Highline College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
48 distinct programs across
15 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Highline College is 15:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$9,667
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Avg Faculty Salary
$91,686
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
154 instructional faculty across 1 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
No Rank
154
100%
$91,686
Pros & Cons of Highline College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Highline College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Very affordable net price after aid
Reasonable class sizes
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution
Best for:
Based on the data, Highline College is a fit for
families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.
Frequently Asked Questions about Highline College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Highline College.
How much does Highline College cost?
The average net price after aid at Highline College is $9,879 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Highline College worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,869 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $9,879 per year. That's roughly 4.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Highline College known for?
Highline College is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Nursing, Medical Assisting. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Highline College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Highline College are $47,869, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Highline College accredited?
Yes. Highline College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
How many students attend Highline College?
Highline College enrolls 3,838 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Highline College?
Highline College graduates 27% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Highline College a public or private college?
Highline College is a Public institution.
Where is Highline College located?
Highline College is located in Des Moines, Washington.
What programs does Highline College offer?
Highline College offers 48 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Nursing, Medical Assisting.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Highline College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Highline College is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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