Centralia College vs. HCC- Highline

Comparable Facts

Compare Centralia College in Centralia, WA with Highline College in Des Moines, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Highline College is larger than Centralia College based on total student enrollment (5,592 students vs. 2,244 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Centralia College is located in Centralia, WA (Distant Town setting); Highline College is in Des Moines, WA (Large Suburban setting).
• Centralia College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Highline College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Centralia College 16:1; Highline College 13:1.

Centralia College vs. HCC- Highline Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Centralia College or HCC- Highline? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Highline College than Centralia College ($11,783 vs. $14,216).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Highline College are 12% lower than at Centralia College ($15,228 vs. $17,307).
• Centralia College is 10.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than HCC- Highline (about $494 more per year; $5,266.00 vs. $4,772.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 6% higher at Centralia College than at Highline College (about $319 more per year; $5,651.00 vs. $5,332.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Centralia College than at Highline College (77% vs. 66%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Highline College students is 12.8% larger than aid received by Centralia College students ($7,026 vs. $6,228).

Centralia College vs. HCC- Highline Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Centralia College or HCC- Highline? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between HCC- Highline and Centralia College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Centralia College - Open admission; HCC- Highline - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Centralia College Sep 1, 2026.

Centralia College vs. HCC- Highline Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Centralia College and HCC- Highline? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Highline College earn a median of about $6,400 more per year than Centralia College graduates about ten years after starting college ($39,300 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.