Highline College
- Graduation Rate
- 37% D
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $47,869 B-
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $9,879 B
- 42% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,838
Bottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 28.0× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $28.0 over 20 years.
Every $1 spent returns $28.0 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,065,153.
What The Data Says
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A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 37% — 35% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $28.0 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Highline College Matters
Highline College is a public community college in Des Moines, WA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,838
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Humanities, Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing
Why students choose Highline College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $9,879 a year after grants and scholarships — 42% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $47,869 ten years after enrolling — 17% above the typical college, against $9,500 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.45 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Highline College serves about 3,800 students, making it a welcoming environment for those seeking a more personalized educational experience. It's particularly well-suited for individuals interested in fields like Humanities, Health Professions, Education, Business & Marketing, or Computer Science & IT. The focus here is on practical skills and real-world applications, which can be a great fit for students looking to make a direct impact in their communities.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $47,869 within ten years. This figure suggests that, while the road may not be easy, those who graduate can find solid job opportunities. The affordability factor is also noteworthy, as the net price after aid is approximately $9,879, which makes pursuing a degree more accessible for many. This combination of earnings potential and cost-effectiveness can be a motivating factor for students considering their financial futures.
For students who thrive here, the manageable median debt of $9,500 is a significant advantage. It allows graduates to start their careers without being overly burdened by loans. Generally, those who do well at Highline College are motivated, practical, and eager to engage with the community. This environment fosters growth and success for students ready to take charge of their educational journey.
Rankings
- #24 Most Affordable Colleges in Washington
- #25 Best Education Colleges in Washington
- #28 Best Computer Science Colleges in Washington
- #28 Best Data Science Colleges in Washington
- #29 Best Nursing Colleges in Washington
- #33 Best Online Colleges in Washington
- #35 Best Colleges in Washington
- #36 Best Business Colleges in Washington
Can I Get In?
How selective Highline College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Highline College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Des Moines, Washington, Highline College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
- Full-Time Faculty
- 95%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,738
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 14:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.87
- First-Gen Students
- 50%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Highline College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Highline College is $5,332, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,879. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,984 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $4,772
- Out-of-State
- $5,332
- Avg Net Price
- $9,879
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Pell Grant Rate
- 19%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 2%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $8,984
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,689
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $11,209
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,378
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Highline College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Highline College earn a median of $47,869, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $42,323
- 8 Years
- $45,176
- 10 Years
- $47,869
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.2x
- Earning > $25K
- 57%
Earnings Trajectory
How Highline Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Highline College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Highline College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $9,879/year ($39,516 total). Graduates earn $47,869 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,104,669 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,065,153 (28.0× your investment). The median debt is $9,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 37% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $39,516
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,104,669
- Net Return
- $1,065,153
- ROI Multiple
- 28.0×
- Cost Per Year
- $9,879
- Median Debt
- $9,500
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 37%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Top Programs
The fields Highline College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
- Humanities 33%
- Health Professions 22%
- Education 14%
- Business & Marketing 12%
- Computer Science & IT 5%
- Physical Sciences 3%
- Visual & Performing Arts 2%
- Legal Studies 2%
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Highline College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Highline College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Des Moines, Washington, Highline College enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 37%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Highline College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Highline College is $5,332, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $9,879. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $8,984 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,500 in federal student loans.
Is Highline College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Highline College earn a median of $47,869, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Highline College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Highline College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Highline College.
- Edmonds CollegeLynnwood, WA · Close peer31% grad $48,144 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- University of Alaska FairbanksFairbanks, AK · Close peer35% grad $48,866 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Clayton State UniversityMorrow, GA · Close peer38% grad $49,179 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Indiana University-South BendSouth Bend, IN · Close peer38% grad $44,947 earn 84% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Everett Community CollegeEverett, WA · Close peer38% grad $45,434 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- North Seattle CollegeSeattle, WA · Close peer33% grad $47,728 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Highline College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Highline College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.45, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note